LOS ANGELES — Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard left Crypto.com Enviornment within the first half towards the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night time due to again spasms, and his standing is unsure for the group’s upcoming back-to-back on the street.
The Clippers stated Leonard was affected by thoracic spasms. In response to a supply, Leonard went residence to relaxation moderately than sit in discomfort on the enviornment.
Coach Tyronn Lue stated Leonard has been coping with the problem for a few days and that the group didn’t know whether or not its franchise star would be capable to go well with up towards Minnesota. After Leonard departed, the Clippers blew a 22-point lead and misplaced 118-100 to the Wolves.
“Wasn’t certain if he was going to go this morning,” Lue stated after the sport. “However he got here to shootaround, acquired some remedy, did what he needed to do and tried to get on the courtroom and performed at present. It simply did not loosen up for him.”
Requested whether or not Leonard will fly with the group on Wednesday for Thursday’s recreation on the Chicago Bulls — which is adopted by Friday’s tilt on the New Orleans Pelicans — Lue stated he wasn’t certain.
“I hope so,” Lue stated.
Leonard left Tuesday’s contest after enjoying 12 minutes and scoring six factors. He was seen on digital camera strolling gingerly out of the world earlier than halftime.
This has been Leonard’s healthiest season as a Clipper; he has performed in 58 of 64 video games thus far, his most since becoming a member of the franchise in 2019.
However the Clippers are coping with extra than simply Leonard’s damage. James Harden is nursing a shoulder damage. He was listed on the damage report with a left shoulder pressure earlier than dealing with the visiting Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks final weekend. Since suiting up after his commerce from the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden has not missed a recreation this season.
“We’ll see tomorrow the way it feels,” Harden stated.
Leonard performed Saturday in the course of the Clippers’ 112-102 win over Chicago. However he and fellow All-Star Paul George sat out Sunday’s 124-117 loss to Milwaukee. Leonard was held out as a result of left groin soreness, whereas George sat with left knee soreness.
Each returned to play Tuesday. George completed with 22 factors, however the Clippers suffered an entire collapse after Leonard exited.
They led Minnesota 57-35 with 5:13 remaining within the first half solely to look at the Wolves outscore them 79-37 to show the sport right into a 114-94 rout by the 4:10 mark within the fourth. Minnesota gained the season sequence with out injured All-Star middle Karl-Anthony Cities.
“Simply being mentally robust,” Lue stated of what went flawed for the Clippers. “They are a good group with out KAT. They will make runs, and we will not drop our heads and really feel sorry for ourselves. … However simply being mentally more durable when issues aren’t going good. There’s a number of issues we did not do nice.”
“They performed more durable than we did, for certain,” the coach continued. “Little doubt pisses me off relating to that. Simply being mentally more durable when stuff will get exhausting. You bought to get more durable.
“We are able to discuss schemes, we will discuss a number of different issues, however we simply acquired to be more durable mentally, and bodily acquired to be higher.”
Anthony Edwards scored 30 factors for the Wolves (45-21), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 25.
Minnesota is half a recreation behind the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, who’re tied atop the Western Convention standings.
The Clippers (41-23) are fourth within the West, on a two-game skid and uncertain whether or not they may have Leonard for the upcoming journey, all whereas Harden can also be banged up.
“We acquired to select up the items,” George stated. “Let Kawhi take no matter time he wants. We simply want him wholesome. However we’ll decide it up, maintain it rolling. We’re not the one group down a person.”