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Clippers followers in all probability threw up their arms and set free a “not once more!” as Kawhi Leonard left the arena in the first half in opposition to the Timberwolves on Tuesday night time.
The announcers, very like the followers, have been puzzled by the flip of occasions, and it wasn’t till after the sport that coach Tyronn Lue revealed the rationale for Leonard’s departure.
In accordance with Lue, via ESPN, Leonard had been
coping with again spasms earlier than the sport and was questionable to even go well with up
in opposition to Minnesota.
NBA insider Shams Charania has now offered an replace on Leonard’s harm. Talking on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back,” Charania revealed Leonard aggravated his again spasms whereas driving to the basket to make a layup within the first quarter.
“He made the bucket, however you possibly can by the way in which he landed… he grimaced
and tugged his again a bit of bit,” Charania mentioned. “He was so uncomfortable that the Clippers determined that, as a substitute of sitting on the bench, it was finest for him to go dwelling.“There’s apparent concern relating to again spasms. It actually simply will depend on how his again reacts to therapy over the approaching days. The hope for the Clippers is you attempt to mitigate the [back spasms] with therapy and it simply goes away.”
The harm could not have come at a worse time for the Clippers, who’re on the street in 4 of their subsequent 5 video games. They are going to be on the street in Chicago, New Orleans and two outings in Portland with one dwelling conflict in opposition to Atlanta in between.
The street journey begins with back-to-back video games in opposition to the Bulls and Pelicans on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Throughout his postgame presser on Tuesday, coach Lue did not sound very optimistic when requested if “The Klaw” would journey with the workforce for the street journey.
“I hope so,” Lue mentioned.
If Leonard misses appreciable time, it could mark the fourth consecutive season when an harm both prematurely ended his season or value the Clippers an opportunity on the NBA title.
Through the 2021 NBA playoffs, Leonard suffered an ACL tear, inflicting him to take a seat out all the 2021-22 season. Then, in the course of the 2023 playoffs, Leonard suffered a torn meniscus throughout a first-round sequence in opposition to the Suns.
The Clippers at the moment have the third-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals, behind solely the Celtics and Nuggets. If Leonard’s harm is critical, Clippers followers may as properly kiss their hopes goodbye.
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