Clippers To Be Without Star Kawhi Leonard in Playoff Opener Vs Mavs

The LA Clippers received unfortunate injury news ahead of their highly anticipated first round playoff clash with Dallas, learning their talisman Kawhi Leonard would be sidelined. Leonard has been out of action since late March with knee inflammation and his status going forward remains unclear. Without their two-way star in the lineup, LA will have to lean heavily on Paul George and the supporting cast.

Leonard has been integral to the Clippers’ success when available, averaging 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this season. His defense in particular will be sorely missed against a potent Mavericks offense led by Luka Doncic. LA will turn to veterans Norman Powell and Marcus Morris to help shoulder the scoring load in Leonard’s absence.

Clippers Face Uphill Battle Without Leonard

It’s an enormous blow for LA to be without their best player for the start of the playoffs. While the team has shown resilience in Leonard’s previous absences, overcoming the loss of his all-around talents will be an immense challenge against a Dallas squad in form. The onus is on George to elevate his game and for role players to step up around him if the Clippers hope to steal Game 1 on the road.

Leonard’s status for the rest of the series also looms as a major question mark. LA will be hoping for a quick recovery, but facing elimination without their talismanic Kawhi Leonard would be a dire scenario. They’ll need to draw on all their experience just to stay competitive in Game 1 as the playoffs get underway without their star man.