Kawhi Leonard out for rest of Western Conference Finals, not ruling out NBA Finals return

The Los Angeles Clippers face a significant challenge as they try and comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Phoenix Suns. They won Game 5 on Monday to cut the Suns lead to 3-2, but they still have to find two more wins and do so without star Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard injured his knee in the Clippers second round series win over the Utah Jazz and there is concern he tore his ACL. The injury has not been formally concerned, and so we get reports like what Chris Haynes had to say Wednesday evening before Game 6 tips. The NBA reporter is hearing that Leonard is definitely out for the rest of the Western Conference Finals but is not ruling out a potential return in the NBA Finals.

If Leonard did actually tear his ACL, there is no chance he returns in the Finals if LA completes the comeback. This could just be some gamesmanship for down the road, but it’s also possible an examination revealed something less than a torn ACL. Anything less than that and maybe he has a chance, but we’ll see if any of this matters after Wednesday evening’s Game 6.