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Kawhi Leonard will be available for the LA Clippers when they host the LA Lakers on Wednesday night. He isn’t on the Clippers’ injury report for the first time in a really long while.
The Clippers haven’t played since Apr. 1 when they lost 122-114 to the New Orleans Pelicans. Leonard should be raring to go against the Lakers in a crucial matchup.
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In Saturday’s loss to the Pelicans, the “Claw” showed vintage form, finishing with 40 points and eight rebounds. He didn’t look like he was bothered by any injury.
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The LA Clippers have made sure Kawhi Leonard will be well-rested heading into their final few games. He only played in the first half in the Grizzlies' matchup versus the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP was a full participant in Monday's loss to the Pelicans. Leonard played back-to-back games for the first time since 2021.
Without Paul George, who's sidelined with a sprained right knee, Leonard's presence will be invaluable against the surging Lakers. Ty Lue's team is on a two-game losing streak, but they've always played their best against their fellow Southern California rivals.
Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers are looking to continue their dominance over the LA Lakers
Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers are 10-0 against the LA Lakers since 2020. They’ve beaten the Lakers by an average of 12.3 points in three games this season.
The matchup on Wednesday night, however, will be crucial in determining who gets the coveted sixth seed and outright playoff berth.
Both teams sport a 41-38 record, but the Clippers hold the sixth spot due to their tiebreaker advantage. If Leonard's team ends the regular-season with the same win-loss slate as the Lakers, they earn a guaranteed place in the playoffs.
Beating the streaking Lakers, however, will be difficult. The Clippers will be without Paul George and they're mired in a slump. They are probably hoping Russell Westbrook will have his revenge game of the season to spoil his former team's playoff chances.
Westbrook seems to have revived his career with the LA Clippers after nearly two seasons of Laker basketball. The former MVP hasn't come off the bench for his new team since playing the sixth man role for the Lakers.
Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook have only played 15 games together this season. They're only 7-8 during that stretch.
However, they've shown stretches where they can be solid if not dominant co-stars, particularly with Paul George sidelined. Both will have to come up with their best games to hold off the blistering hot LA Lakers.
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