Getty Images Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers
Sunday night, the Los Angeles Clippers picked up a victory on the road over the Washington Wizards, 135-119. This game was the first half of their scheduled back-to-back, with the Clippers facing the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
As reported by Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, the Clippers’ injury report lists Kawhi Leonard as out for tonight’s game. JaMychal Green, Landry Shamet, and Rodney McGruder will also be sidelined. Leonard is out due to what’s being phrased as left-knee management.
Clippers vs. Wizards
Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers against Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards
The Clippers are currently on a six-game road trip. Their victory over the Wizards last night was their second game on the road and came after a tough loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, 119-91.
The team looked to redeem themselves on Sunday and grabbed a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter. It was in the second quarter where things started to get a little rocky. The Clippers put in their bench players who struggled to keep pace with the Wizards. Washington was able to outscore the Clippers and gain a lead midway through the second. The Clippers put their starters back in and proceeded to regain the lead to end the half by one point.
To start the second half, Leonard went down to the floor after he and Washington’s Isaac Bonga got tangled up. He then got up holding his left knee with both hands. Leonard didn’t let the pain get to him though and continued to dominate. He closed out the game with 34 points, with 19 of them coming in the second half. After Leonard’s fall, he was asked in a post-game interview what exactly had happened.
“Just kind of coming off a screen and got tripped up,” Leonard said via ESPN. “It was good. Just making sure everything was good.”
Leonard also posted 11 boards and five assists to go along with his 34 points. Fellow Clippers star Paul George trailed Leonard but finished with 27 points, six assists and six boards. Montrezl Harrell also dominated on the court last night and tallied 20 points and five boards. Davis Bertans led the Wizards with 25 points, two assists and three boards.
Clippers vs. Pacers
Getty ImagesPaul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers
Tonight the Clippers will play against the Pacers without Leonard. They will have PG though who played for Indiana during his early seasons in the NBA. George was the No. 10 overall pick during the 2010 NBA Draft by the Pacers. George spent six seasons with the team before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017. After last night’s game PG-13 told ESPN he would be playing against his former team.
“I spent the longest part of my career in Indiana,” George said. “A lot of those people there are still family to me. So, absolutely, it’ll always be [of] significance coming back to Indiana.”
The Clippers may not have Leonard but George has had an incredible start to the season in his own right. He is currently averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 boards and 3.5 assists. Right now, the Clippers hold a 17-7 record and are second in the Western Conference, while the Pacers boast a 15-8 mark and are sixth in the Eastern Conference. Tip-off for tonight’s game is at 4 p.m. PST.