The Los Angeles Clippers have added Kawhi Leonard ($7,800) and Norman Powell ($8,000) to the injury report ahead of tomorrow’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Both are officially listed as questionable with Leonard dealing with soreness in his left foot and Powell having soreness in his left knee.
This is notable for Leonard as this is the first new injury to pop up this season. He has played just 16 total games after missing the first 34 games of the season due to his ongoing knee issues. When he has been on the floor Leonard is averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He has yet to fully break out into the dominant version of himself, but there have been some encouraging stretches.
In some regard, it should be viewed as a positive that this is not an issue with his troublesome knee. However, injuries are never a good thing.
In Leonard’s absence, Powell has stepped up in a major way. The 31-year-old is having a career season averaging 24.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Powell also is attempting a career-high 7.8 three-point attempts per game and connecting at a 42.8% rate. He narrowly missed out on being named an All-Star for the first time in his career and has a strong case for deserving the Most Improved Player award.
If the two standout forwards are unable to play, there will be even more offensive responsibility put on the plate of James Harden ($9,600). The former MVP has done an impressive job helping keep this Clippers team afloat and is averaging 21.5 points, 8.6 assists and 5.8 rebounds at the age of 35. Ivica Zubac ($8,600) would also be counted on to be a more notable offensive option and is in the midst of the best season of his career, largely thanks to the playmaking of Harden. Los Angeles may also attempt to unleash its most recent addition Ben Simmons ($6,200), who has produced 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists across his first two games and 47 total minutes with the team.
The Clippers hold a record of 31-24 and sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. It will be a difficult matchup as the Pacers have turned their season around. Indiana has climbed to fourth place in the Eastern Conference with its 31-23 record, and it will enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak and having won seven of its last 10 games.
Los Angeles will have to make some significant changes to its offense if Powell and Leonard are unable to play in this game and these will be statuses to monitor as we get closer to the opening tip.
