As the Los Angeles Clippers prepare for the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, February 28, the All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard has been downgraded on the injury report once again.
This time, it’s for a different reason. The Clippers revealed Leonard is dealing with an illness. Therefore, he was viewed as questionable for the outing.
UPDATE: Kawhi Leonard has been left off the official injury report.
When Did Kawhi Leonard Last Play For The Clippers?
GettyKawhi Leonard has been downgraded on the Clippers’ injury report against the Pelicans.
The Clippers’ February 22 matchup against the Orlando Magic was Leonard’s latest outing. The veteran forward checked in for 32 minutes, shooting 14-25 from the field, scoring 37 points. He teased a double-double with right rebounds.
Heading into the Clippers’ February 26 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Clippers downgraded Leonard on the injury report. He was questionable to play as he dealt with ankle soreness.
Although the Clippers had the door open for Leonard to potentially play, he was ultimately ruled out. It was the first absence for Leonard since he missed three games in a row back in late January.
The 2025-2026 NBA season has been a positive one for Leonard on the health front. While he missed a large chunk of games in November, he managed to play in 24-straight games from November up until mid-January.
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For a player like Leonard, who often deals with critical setbacks, playing in 44 out of 57 games has been an absoloute win for Los Angeles this season.
Throughout the year, the Clippers have had a roller coaster of a season. Despite heading into the year with championship aspirations, they were one of the worst teams in the Western Conference to begin the year.
As time went on, the Clippers turned the season around and started heating up. Still, the hot streak didn’t prevent the Clippers from trading away the win-now guard, James Harden. That led teams to make calls to the Clippers to inquire about Leonard’s availability.
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The Clippers didn’t have plans to move on from Kawhi. They held onto the veteran forward, and he has kept them in a position to remain somewhat competitive, despite missing their All-Star-caliber guard, who was traded for an injured star in Darius Garland.
This season, Leonard has appeared in 44 games for the Clippers. Seeing the court for 32 minutes per game, the veteran forward has averaged 28.0 points, while shooting 49% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc.
Along with his scoring, Leonard has averaged 6.4 rebounds per game, along with 3.7 assists per game.
Heading into the Clippers-Pelicans clash, LA holds a 27-31 record. They have lost three games in a row while sitting 10th in the Western Conference.
On Sunday, the Clippers are facing the 18-42 Pelicans, who are heating up with three wins in a row. The Clippers are likely going to roll with the idea that Leonard is a game-time decision.
The Clippers and the Pelicans are scheduled for a 9 PM ET tip.
Clippers Reveal Different Kawhi Leonard Issue