Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has officially ruled out star Kawhi Leonard for Game 6 against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Clippers are one win away from reaching their first Western Conference Championship game in franchise history. They can clinch that opportunity as soon as Friday night in Game 6 against the Utah Jazz. Unsurprisingly, though, they will have to do so without star Kawhi Leonard.
On Thursday, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue officially declared Leonard out for Game 6 due to a right knee sprain.
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard ruled out for Game 6 vs. Jazz due to knee injury
The news does not come as a shock, especially when reports indicate that the Clippers fear that Leonard suffered an ACL injury back in Game 4, which could keep him out indefinitely. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of that contest as he drove to the paint, and it looked as though his right knee buckled. Leonard was pulled from the remainder of that game as a result.
Leonard had been averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 57.3-percent from the field and 39.3-percent from the three-point line through 11 playoff games.
Even though Leonard’s absence is huge, fellow star Paul George stepped up for the Clippers in their 119-111 Game 5 victory. In 40 minutes of playing time, George scored 37 points (12-for-22 from field, 10-for-11 from free throw line), grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out five assists.
All the Clippers have to do is follow the same formula from Game 5, and they can clinch up a spot in the Western Conference Finals as soon as Friday night. However, it will be interesting to see how the Jazz adjusts after losing to the Leonard-less Clippers on Wednesday night.