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NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard will continue to miss more games for the struggling LA Clippers. “The Claw” has played only two games after a highly-anticipated season where fans expected him to be available for a large part of the season.
Leonard last played against the Phoenix Suns. He started off the bench again and finished with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 21 minutes. A nagging right knee problem has kept him sidelined in the Clippers’ last four games.
NBA champion coach Tyronn Lue explained to the media that Leonard will miss the team’s next two games on the road. The Clippers face the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs next.
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Coach Lue said:
"He's frustrated. He wants to be out on the floor. He wants to travel, but that's obviously not the right thing to do right now."
The LA Clippers have been considered by many to be the team to beat in the West over defending champions Golden State Warriors. It remains to be seen how the Clippers will continue performing without their main man.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Cavaliers' All-Star guard Darius Garland remains questionable for the next game against the Boston Celtics. Garland hasn’t played since the team’s season opener when he was poked in the eye by Gary Trent Jr..
Garland has been watching the Cavaliers play while sitting on the bench wearing dark glasses. So far, Cleveland has survived without him as they have gone undefeated in five games since his injury.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was non-committal about Darius Garland’s availability when they face the Boston Celtics in their next game. Here’s what he had to say about Garland's potential return:
“We’ll see tomorrow. He went through everything. It’s how he’s feeling tomorrow and what the swelling looks like, but he was good today. He’s done enough to go ahead and play if he’s gonna play.”
Deandre Ayton: Sprained ankle; injured since October 29, 2022
Deandre Ayton sprained his ankle by stepping on the foot of New Orleans Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas. He missed the Phoenix Suns’ last two games but could make a return sooner than expected.
The NBA big man looked good and springy in warmups before the Suns took on the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the way he’s moving, Monty Williams could see his starting center return to action in the next few days.
Ayton is averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in five games this season. Phoenix’s interior play on both ends of the court has expectedly slipped without Ayton.
Robert Williams: Left knee; injured since March 2022
Robert Williams tore a meniscus in his left knee but still returned in the postseason to help the Boston Celtics’ championship bid. However, it was evident he wasn’t 100% as there were times when he simply could not put weight on his knee.
Williams underwent another knee procedure two months ago, which meant that he would miss the first three or four months of the season. The Celtics are hoping that he can rejoin the team before the All-Star break.
Boston’s defense has slackened without Williams on the floor. However, recent reports suggest Williams is progressing as expected, which should excite Celtics fans.
Williams averaged 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks per game last season for the Celtics.
