Clippers News: Kawhi Leonard Ruled Out For Game 1 vs Dallas

Los Angeles Clipper star Kawhi Leonard won't be on the court for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks.

According to Clippers insider Brad Turner from the Los Angeles Times, Leonard is ruled out for Game 1 due to right knee inflammation. Turner shared via X just an hour and a half before tip-off.

This will be Leonard's ninth consecutive game missed dating back to March 31 against the Charlotte Hornets on the road. The 32-year-old played 37 minutes and collected 23 points, five rebounds and two assists on 52.6% shooting from the field. The six-time All-star played in 68 games in the 2023-2024 season, the most he has since the 2016-2017 season with the San Antonio Spurs.

That season, he played 74 games and averaged 25.5 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He finished third in MVP voting, was named All-NBA First-Team, First-team All-Defense, an All-Star and third in Defensive Player of the Year.

It's like Déjà vu for Leonard and Clipper fans. Leonard missed time during last year's playoffs with a right knee injury. He tore his meniscus in the first round of last year's playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. Ultimately, Los Angeles was eliminated after a gentlemen's sweep of 1-4, and Leonard only played one game in that series.

Leonard will be out for today's matchup, and his status for Game 2 of the series is uncertain. The Mavericks are the favorites to win game one at -3.5. The over/under is set at 221.5. The Dallas moneyline is at -170, while the Clippers moneyline is at +140.

The right knee issues continue for the talented two-time Finals MVP. In his career, Leonard is a 20.0 point per game scorer, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9% from the field and 39.1% from behind the arc. Leonard has also been named a seven-time All-Defensive team, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Without Leonard, the Clippers likely don't stand a chance against this high-powered Mavericks team led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks are coming into this series as one of the best teams in the NBA and finished the regular season with a 7-3 record in their last ten games.

The Clippers will need their other superstars, like Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook to step up big-time. It'll be a challenge but this Clippers team has played without Leonard plenty of times before. Tip-off is set at 12:30 p.m. PT/ 3:30 p.m. ET. from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.