BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 29: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers and Paul George #13 during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 29, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Injuries are a constant concern for the Los Angeles Clippers and they’ve reared their ugly head again just before Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns.
The Los Angeles Clippers are already short-handed in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. Paul George has been out with a sprained right knee and is probably won’t be able to return during the first round.
Now, hours before the Clippers were set to host the Suns in Game 3, it’s been reported that Kawhi Leonard is also out with a knee sprain.
Can the Clippers win without Kawhi Leonard?
At this point, there are no additional details about the severity of the injury or Leonard’s prognosis but it’s a bad sign for the Clippers. They were able to steal a game on the road but not much has been working for their offense besides Leonard, who has been averaging 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Either Norm Powell or Terance Mann would likely fill Kawhi’s place in the starting lineup but in either case a huge amount of offensive creation responsibility is now going to be shifted to Russell Westbrook. The Clippers’ new point guard has been all over the board this season, both before and after being traded from the Lakers. He’s had his moments in this series but he’s also shooting 34.3 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
If Leonard simply misses Game 3 and the Clippers can’t pull off the huge upset, they’ll still have Game 4 at home to try and even up the series. But if he’s out for multiple games a difficult challenge may have become almost impossible.
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