Kawhi Leonard suffered an apparent ankle injury during the Los Angeles Clippers' clash with the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Leonard is in the 15th season of his NBA career, his seventh with the Clippers. He continues to shine as one of the top veteran stars in the league, wowing crowds with his elite two-way skills.
However, injuries have prevented him from reaching his true heights. And they have been exposed once again as Leonard suffered a left ankle injury in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. This happened when he lost his balance and fell to the ground after trying to save an opposing player in defence. According to reporter Tomer Azarly, he went to the locker room because the team had decided he would miss the remainder of the game.
"Kawhi Leonard is out for the remainder of the Clippers-Kings game with a left ankle injury," Azzarli wrote.
How the Clippers played against the Kings amid Kawhi Leonard's injury
The Clippers sorely missed Kawhi Leonard's presence in the fourth quarter. They lost 34–26 in that frame as they lost to the Kings by a final score of 118–109.
Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the loss, including Leonard. He led the way with a stat line of 31 points, six rebounds and two steals. He made 13 of 23 shots from the field, including 2 of 6 from beyond the arc and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. Darius Garland came next with 25 points and seven assists, Benedict Mathurin had 24 points and six rebounds, while John Collins provided 10 points and three rebounds.
Los Angeles fell to a 33–32 record on the season, finishing eighth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the San Antonio Spurs as tip-off takes place on March 16 at 10 pm ET.
