The Los Angeles Clippers are set to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, March 30 but will do so without Kawhi Leonard. The six-time All-Star will be absent for the first half of the back-to-back matchup for the Clippers as they will face the Magic on Monday.
Leonard has returned to form in recent games but the Clippers continue to be proactive in maximizing his chances of a healthy playoff run. The Clippers are plenty used to playing without the superstar as he’s missed 43 of 73 games this year. They are 18-11 with Leonard and 23-20 without him.
He’s averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. In the previous victory over the Nets, Leonard finished with 31 points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks, marking one of his best two-way performances of the season. After some initial growing pains, he has settled back into the star-caliber player he has proven to be. Across his past 12 games, Leonard is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Los Angeles sits firmly in the playoff mix, currently in the sixth seed in the competitive Western Conference. With nine games remaining, the Clippers will be looking to stay above the play-in tournament line as the Warriors are tied with the same record and the Timberwolves are just half a game back. This will be a tough back-to-back stretch for the Clippers, but they have proven ready for the challenge regularly this season.
With Leonard sidelined, expect James Harden to take on even more offensive responsibility and Norman Powell to have an increased offensive role. The Clippers will lean on their defensive-minded approach as they take on the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers.
