The Los Angeles Clippers are set to turn into complete for the primary time this season on Saturday evening when Kawhi Leonard makes his anticipated season debut in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks in Inglewood, Calif.
ESPN reported that Leonard plans to play after he was upgraded to questionable on Friday.
Leonard, 33, has struggled with recurring knee points that cropped up once more late final season, even lacking a chance to play for Staff USA this previous summer time on the Paris Olympics.
A six-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Leonard averaged 23.7 factors and 6.1 rebounds in 68 video games final season after he did not play in any respect within the 2021-22 marketing campaign following knee surgical procedure.
He missed the ultimate eight video games of the 2023-24 common season and performed in simply two video games of the workforce’s first-round playoff exit in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks.
Along with Leonard’s debut, Terance Mann is anticipated to return from a fractured finger that required surgical procedure and compelled him to overlook the previous 12 video games. Mann has averaged 6.3 factors in 23 video games (11 begins).
The Clippers have dropped consecutive video games, together with 116-98 to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Thursday. James Harden sat out due to proper groin soreness however is in line to return Saturday.
The workforce’s main rebounder, Ivica Zubac (12.4 rpg), performed Thursday however practically was a scratch with an undisclosed damage, in line with coach Tyronn Lue. To make issues worse, main scorer Norman Powell (23.6 ppg) was 1 of 11 from the ground and dedicated six turnovers.
“They had been blitzing him a bit bit to make the move so we will get open photographs, so we took benefit of that early on within the recreation,” Lue mentioned of Powell. “He was due for certainly one of these video games the best way he is been taking pictures the ball all yr, the best way he is been scoring the basketball. (It) was a tricky evening for him taking pictures the basketball.”
Now comes a return house the place Los Angeles has gained 11 of the final 13 video games in its new constructing. Saturday would be the lone house recreation for the Clippers in a stretch of six contests.
The Hawks will play within the Los Angeles space for the second time in two nights following a 119-102 loss to the Lakers on Friday. Trae Younger scored 33 factors for Atlanta, whereas Jalen Johnson added 19 after lacking a loss at Denver on Wednesday with a sore shoulder.
The Hawks have adopted a four-game profitable streak with consecutive losses and are 1-2 to open a six-game journey that additionally has stops at Utah and Phoenix forward.
Younger’s 22.6 ppg common is his lowest since his rookie season (19.1) of 2018-19 as he continues to evolve as a star, with progress in areas outdoors of scoring. Younger has scored a minimum of 30 factors in three consecutive video games and has achieved it 9 instances this season.
“It is distinctive when you’ve a man at a sure level of their profession, once they’ve had an incredible quantity of success individually to have a thirst for persevering with to get higher,” coach Quin Snyder mentioned of Younger “… I recognize that, his teammates recognize it, and it is the suitable factor. He is embraced it, and I am glad to see it as a result of it isn’t all the time simple.”
Saturday’s assembly would be the first of two video games between the groups this season, with a rematch set for March 14 at Atlanta.
–Subject Stage Media