During the Los Angeles Clippers’ 125-122 loss on the road to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard left the game with 5:10 remaining because of soreness in his left ankle, according to the team’s announcement. Leonard’s ongoing ankle soreness was a factor in his early departure, raising questions about his health as the season progresses.
Player Performance and Coach’s Outlook on Injury
Before exiting, Leonard scored 31 points, maintaining his streak of 35 consecutive games with at least 20 points. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue addressed the situation after the game, noting that Leonard had been managing some left ankle soreness which became stiff during play.
“Kawhi’s been dealing with some left ankle soreness, so it got stiff on him so we got him out,”
Lue said.
Background on Leonard’s Injury History and Season Stats
Kawhi Leonard has had chronic knee trouble since joining the Clippers in the 2019-20 season and also missed 10 games earlier this year due to ankle and foot injuries. Currently in his 14th NBA season, Leonard is averaging a career-best 27.8 points and 6.4 rebounds across 42 games this season. Over his career, he has appeared in 775 games, averaging 20.5 points and 6.4 rebounds, and holds two NBA championships.
Potential Impact and Next Steps
Although Leonard’s ankle soreness did not sound immediately severe according to the coach, his injury history suggests that monitoring his condition will be important moving forward. The Clippers will likely exercise caution to avoid aggravating the issue as they continue their campaign. Leonard’s health remains crucial to the team’s performance this season, making the management of his ankle soreness a key focus in upcoming games.
