Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers' game on Friday, January 9.
TheLos Angeles Clippers will face theBrooklyn Nets on the road on Friday, January 9, but they may be without their best player
Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain on theofficial injury report. He had 25 points, three rebounds and four assists on 50% shooting from the field and 42.9% shooting from three in a 123-111 loss to theNew York Knicks on Wednesday, January 7.
Leonard is having another excellent season, averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 49.8% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Is Kawhi Leonard Playing Tonight?
Leonard missed 10 games earlier this season withright ankle and foot sprains, and his current injury designation could be related to that, as he appeared toroll his ankle in the third quarter against the Knicks on Wednesday. The Clippers could be wanting to give him a rest day to prevent a possible injury flare up, especially given tonight is the first game of a back-to-back for Los Angeles. It will be worth monitoring the forward throughout the day.
Los Angeles won’t take any chances with Leonard if he is not feeling 100%. The Clippers will likely evaluate him in pregame warmups and then make a final decision on his status. If Leonard is out tonight,Nicolas Batum andJordan Miller will be in line for more minutes.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hamstring injury management) andDerrick Jones Jr. (right knee sprain) are both out for tonight’s game.
Kawhi Leonard Trade Rumors
With the Clippers sitting in 12th in the Western Conference at 13-23, there have been talks of trades involving Leonard and James Harden at the trade deadline. The team has saidit wants to try and compete this year, but if the Clippers don’t improve their record in the next couple of weeks, the front office will have to consider selling.
Leonard could certainly help any contender and has been linked to a number of teams, including theDetroit Pistons andPhoenix Suns.Since returning from injury in late November, the forward isaveraging 29.1 points per game and scored a career-high 55 points against the Pistons on December 28.
The Clippers will face the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons on Saturday, January 10 and will then play theCharlotte Hornets,Washington Wizards andToronto Raptorsnext week. It could be a critical stretch to determining Los Angeles’ trade deadline fate.