Kawhi Leonard walked previous the media within the Clippers’ locker room with a plate of meals in his fingers, his temper seemingly good. He even spoke to the media — as brief because it was.
“What’s up?” Leonard stated. “What’s up? What’s up?”
Certainly, what’s up with Leonard and when will he make his season debut after lacking the primary 27 video games of the season due to a proper knee harm?
Earlier than the Clippers’ 144-107 win over the Utah Jazz on the Intuit Dome on Monday evening, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was requested in regards to the crew’s follow plans for Leonard and whether or not he would be a part of them on their upcoming journey to Dallas and Memphis.
“Um, not sure about traveling right now,” Lue stated. “It hasn’t been determined yet. So, we’ll see going forward after tonight, tomorrow, kind of get a chance to reassess everything and kind of go after tomorrow. See what happens.”
The Clippers, who noticed James Harden blast off for 41 factors on 11-for-17 capturing, together with seven for 11 on three-pointers towards the Jazz, are off the following two days earlier than enjoying the Mavericks on Thursday and Saturday. The Clippers end their journey towards Memphis on Dec. 23.
Lue was requested how Leonard’s progress after the ahead took half in two non-contact follow periods final week.
“Progressed very well,” Lue stated, “yeah, progressed very well.”
So is Leonard near returning, maybe within the subsequent three or 4 video games or in a few weeks?
“I’m not sure,” Lue stated.
Lue was then requested who would possibly know the reply, laughing earlier than saying Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, could be the one to ask.
“You talk to them,” Lue stated. “You’re trying to get me in trouble, man.”
Lue was informed that reporters didn’t need to make any flawed assumptions about Leonard’s potential return timeline.
“And I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” Lue stated, laughing. “So, I don’t know.”’
However Lue did present some room for optimism.
“There is a chance he might travel,” Lue stated. “That hasn’t been determined yet, so we’ll find out.”
Leonard final performed in April, in Sport 3 of the first spherical towards the Mavericks.
He labored out with USA Basketball in Las Vegas in July, however ultimately was despatched dwelling and didn’t play within the Paris Olympics.
Leonard averaged a team-best 23.7 factors per sport final season, with 6.1 rebounds and three.5 assists. He shot 52.5% from the sphere and 41.7% from three-point vary.
In the meantime, the Clippers hold pushing on with out Leonard, who watched the sport from the bench on his bobblehead evening.
Harden stated it has been “great” having Leonard again at follow.
“I think we’re going to be more excited to have him for a full practice,” Harden stated. “We don’t really have contact practice, but when we do, just contact practice and then games. So, he’s inching his way back towards the court and take his time. Whenever he’s ready, we’re ready for him.”
And in a sport the Clippers notched their season excessive for factors, it was Harden who pressed on in an enormous means by turning into the ninth participant in franchise historical past to have a number of 40-plus level video games in a single season.
Harden had 24 factors within the first quarter, the second-most factors scored in a single quarter in Clippers historical past. He was six for 9 from the sphere, 5 for seven from three-point vary and 7 for eight from the free-throw line within the quarter.
His work helped the Clippers open an 81-47 lead at halftime, probably the most factors they’ve scored in a half this season.
Harden stated he felt his sport was on level “from the beginning” and that’s why he stored up the assault.
“I always feel like that,” he stated. ”It’s simply in the event you make photographs, then it’s totally different. Once you don’t, you sort of ease up somewhat bit. However, yeah, I’m simply pleased to win the sport. I used to be pleased for the blokes to get again on the win column.”
