標籤: Kawhi

Kawhi Leonard’s days as a Los Angeles Clipper are done. one way or another.

We are still waiting for the NBA’s decision on how to punish the Clippers for the alleged ‘cap rigging’ scandal. This could potentially void Leonard’s contract (with one year remaining on $50 million). But even if not, it appears that Kawhi’s trade from La La Land is certain this summer.

Rumors have been flying around in recent weeks, but the latest information from insider Sean Deveney seems to put the nail in Kawhi’s coffin in LA.

According to a source close to Deveney, the Clippers will “move into a rebuild” this summer based on securing the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

“I think you’ll see that they really move forward with rebuilding this summer, and they can probably get it done relatively quickly.”

The Clips got a huge lead on that young move before the trade deadline. They added exciting young backcourt players Benedict Mathurin, 23, of the Indiana Pacers, and Darius Garland, 26, of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He moved ahead of veterans Ivica Zubac and James Harden in the process.

Next, a perfect move to stay young in a trade to send Leonard to a team that needs a veteran superstar with championship credentials.

3 teams named as top summer contenders for Kawhi Leonard

Devenney specifically names three teams that are renowned as prime contenders for superstar-hunting Leonard:

• Miami Heat
• new York Knicks
• Golden State Warriors

The Warriors attempted to trade for any big star they could acquire at the deadline, with rumored targets including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi. They’ll try again this summer, potentially on all three fronts.

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points writes, “Trading for a big-name star is extremely relevant for owner Joe Lacob and the Warriors.”

All three teams are also in the running in the Giannis sweepstakes, but Kawhi will also be a target.

Leonard returned to the top of his game last season. He proved that even at the age of 34, after years of injury troubles, he can still be one of the top players in the NBA. Kawhi averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 boards and 3.6 assists per game in 65 games.

He is a two-time Finals MVP, in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs and in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

A Golden State Warriors insider believes an elite star forward should be a top target for the team this summer. However, now it’s Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It’s been another disappointing season for the Warriors and their fans. After appearing likely to reach the NBA Finals a year ago, Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury dashed those hopes. However, he entered this season with big aspirations after building chemistry with Jimmy Butler over the summer.

However, Butler tore his ACL in January just when the team finally got on a roll. Due to this once again their title hopes were dashed. Nevertheless, the team made a bold move to try to save those plans by trading for Antetokounmpo in February. Obviously, he did not achieve that goal. But hopefully they can target him again this summer.

However, San Francisco Standard Warriors columnist Tim Kawakami believes there is a more sensible option. Instead of giving up the burden of the draft and player assets for the 10-time All-Star, Kawakami thinks Golden State should target Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.

A case for the Warriors to target Kawhi Leonard this summer

Interestingly, they would not land Leonard in a trade, although there are rumors he could be available. Instead, Kawakami wants to see the Warriors sign the seven-time All-Star in free agency. This could be a possibility as rumors continue to swirl that the NBA may soon void his Clippers contract due to the questionable practices LA used to sign him a few years ago.

The Warriors insider detailed a two-pronged plan to add the 34-year-old, who is having a great season. First, the team will need to come under the first salary tax threshold. He noted that the team had six players signed for next season, including Butler and Moses Moody, who would not be available until the second half of the season.

They will then “attempt to sign both Draymond Green (to replace his $27.7 million player option) and Kristaps Porzingis to moderate two-year deals, probably both around two years, $40 million.” This would give the franchise “approximately $184 million in total commitments for eight players”. Then add $6 million for a player taken in Round 1 of the NBA Draft – that pick will likely be around No. 11. Taking them to $194 million, which is $11 million under the tax threshold.

The second part of the plan will try to convince Leonard to join the team on the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. He admits it’s not a guarantee, but adding a high-impact player with championship potential when fully healthy is the best option.

It’s a plan that will require a bit of luck, but the chance to get on the Warriors roster and a stud prospect in the lottery may appeal to Leonard if he wants to stay in California and pursue another championship. Additionally, popular NBA expert Bill Simmons recently outlined several reasons why an Antetokounmpo trade would be a bad idea for the Warriors.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers will take the field for a home game against the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Here’s everything we know about Leonard’s injury and his playing status on Wednesday against the Raptors.

Kawhi Leonard’s playing situation against the Raptors

There is some doubt at the moment as to whether Kawhi Leonard will be able to compete against his former team on Wednesday, given his questionable designation on the injury report. Leonard played in the Clippers’ last game, a home win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and played well for the most part, but he has been on the injury report repeatedly over the past week due to an ankle ailment.

The injury report also includes Jordan Miller, who is questionable due to back pain.

For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram is questionable for this game due to heel inflammation, while Jakob Poeltl is also questionable due to management of a lower back strain injury. Immanuel Quickley is listed as questionable due to a planter.
He has fasciitis in his right foot.

Overall, the Clippers are looking to pick up as many wins as possible to improve their playoff position as the 2025-26 season enters its home leg.

The Clippers are currently in eighth place in the conference, and although it is unlikely they can move further than that, they are only half a game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. Slipping up in that position would mean winning two play-in games to reach the playoffs, not just one.

In any case, the Clippers and Raptors are scheduled to tip off from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:30 pm ET.

The NBA investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard is still ongoing. The Clippers reportedly attempted to circumvent the NBA salary cap by paying money to Leonard through a bankrupt company called Aspiration. No verdict has been reached on the scam; However, the Clippers may lose Leonard.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix joins Rachel Nichols on Open Floor to discuss the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers. Although nothing has been disclosed by the NBA, there is a possibility that Leonard’s contract could be voided.

“It is relevant as [Kawhi Leonard]contract,” Mannix said. “If [the NBA] Decides that ‘Hey, we can void Kawhi’s contract because we deem it invalid because of how this all came together.’ There’s a lot – I mean, there’s as much discussion about anything in the NBA right now. Anything. “Every field I go to, I hear about it, every conversation I have with league and team officials, this comes up.”

This would not be the first time that the NBA has canceled a contract. In 2000, the NBA voided Joe Smith’s contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves after circumventing the salary cap. There is precedent for a voided contract, and the Clippers could face similar penalties with Leonard.

Other possible penalties for Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

There are other potential penalties for Leonard and the Clippers. If the NBA gets things wrong with Los Angeles, the organization could be stripped of multiple first-round selections, fined a large amount of money, and face a suspension or worse in the basketball personnel department.

With Minnesota, the NBA stripped the organization of five first-round selections, fined the organization $3.5 million, and suspended Timberwolves executives Kevin McHale and Glenn Taylor. The Clippers could face a similar punishment that would cripple the organization’s future.

As far as Leonard is concerned, the biggest penalty would be to cancel the contract with the Clippers, but suspension or fine cannot be ruled out. It all depends on what the NBA finds in its investigation. If the NBA voids the superstar’s contract, it would likely spark a bidding war in free agency, if not his future in jeopardy.

It’s unclear when the NBA will reveal its findings and potential penalties, but the Clippers may be on the verge of a watershed moment in team history. If the NBA decides to give up, it will have a huge impact on Los Angeles’ future and set the organization back for a long time.

It would start with Leonard’s contract being voided, which would shock the NBA.

READ MORE: Rumor opens door to Spurs and Kawhi Leonard reuniting this summer

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The LA Clippers have developed an interesting partnership over the last month of the season. Kawhi Leonard, currently the longest-tenured Clipper, joined forces with Darius Garland when the franchise traded for the two-time NBA All-Star.

Now, the pair are learning how to play with others as they fast forward to a do-or-die play-in tournament and potentially a postseason.

In just eight games played together so far, the Clippers are 6-2 – including a loss against the Sacramento Kings, where Leonard left the game early due to an ankle sprain. In the frankly incredibly small sample size of 120 minutes so far, the Clippers are outscoring opponents by 18.75 points per 100 possessions.

“It’s always good to have help,” Leonard said. “Darius is getting back in the lineup and being the star he has been in years past and coming in and still great for us, with 40 the other night, he’s getting the crowd going with his threes and passing and just his overall energy and, yes, looking forward to Ben coming back. But I think it’s a new challenge for everybody. Every year is different. And, yes, just try to come in and be competitive and just positive energy for everybody. Release.”

Kawhi Leonard hasn’t played before with a fast, agile guard like Darius Garland who can also shoot the three-ball at an elite level, so while the Clippers have been winning games with those two, it’s also been a learning experience for everyone involved.

“It’s amazing,” Leonard said of his experience with Garland so far. “He got going at that time, especially in Dallas, he was hitting those threes and, like I said, with his passing and his ability to just get down and see the floor, it makes the game easier for me. I got a lot of catch and shoot threes in Dallas and I probably haven’t had that many for the last month or so. Once he got back in the lineup, he was able to create, draw two or three guys, get kicks to me and some Got open eyes. And like me, it’s a different game and challenge, so just try to get better at it.

In his first 10 games with the Clippers, Darius Garland has averaged 20.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 50.7 percent from three. Kawhi Leonard has averaged 30.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game so far with Garland.

“It’s simple,” Leonard explained. “We’re still working through it, obviously. I don’t know what game it is for him, but it’s a steady progression, especially without someone who went through the first part of the season and training camp. But it’s been great to have all the positivity. I want him to do his best on the field. If he’s going, I’m going to stay out of his way. If I’m going, he’s going to stay out of my way or just try to find each other. So. Just keep working and we’ll see what each other likes. It’s been positive.”

The LA Clippers only have 10 games left this season, and they are currently 36-36 on the season. They will be trying to win their 15th consecutive winning season, the longest active streak in the NBA. To do that, LA would have to go 6-4 over its last 10.

The LA Clippers have been climbing up the Western Conference standings throughout the season after starting the year with a 6-21 record. Under the leadership of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have been able to reach .500 once again at 36–36 entering their final 10 games of the season.

The 2025–26 season has perhaps been the most impressive of Leonard’s career when taking into account the highest scoring of his career in addition to injuries and franchise-altering moves made by the team at the NBA trade deadline. Leonard has already been a leader for the Clippers due to his work ethic and incredible in-game performances, but everything that has happened so far has only heightened that.

“This group loves to play basketball,” Kawhi Leonard said when asked about his leadership style with this new-look Clippers team. “They love to be out there having fun and competing. And we’re not afraid of anybody. Even if they’re more talented or have a better record, we still want to go out and compete and try to take pride in being out there playing and being competitive.”

This season of the Clippers has seen allegations of salary cap manipulation, a season-ending injury to Bradley Beal, Chris Paul being sent home at midnight during a road trip, the trade of the Clippers’ longest-tenured teammates in James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the arrivals of Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, as well as a season-ending injury to Yannick Konan Niederhauser.

Through it all, the Clippers have been a bright spot, especially in their young players like Niederhauser, Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.

“There’s a lot of young guys or guys that are getting a lot of minutes in different roles this year that are moving forward. So we just have to tell them to enjoy the moment, but a lot of times when we’re frustrated or if the call isn’t going our way, at the end of the day it’s just basketball and it never goes your way. So just put one foot in front of the other and just play and enjoy.”

After some initial doubts about the Clippers’ ability to compete following the Harden and Zubac trades, Darius Garland quickly shut it down with his stellar play.

“It’s always good to have help,” Leonard said. “Darius is getting back in the lineup and being the star he has been in years past and coming in and still great for us, with 40 the other night, he’s getting the crowd going with his threes and passing and just his overall energy and, yes, looking forward to Ben coming back. But I think it’s a new challenge for everybody. Every year is different. And, yes, just try to come in and be competitive and just positive energy for everybody. Release.”

In 56 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three and 90.1 percent from the free throw line.

Leonard has missed 16 of the Clippers’ 72 games this season, so he is only allowed to miss one more game before he will be ineligible for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA teams and All-Defense teams.

The LA Clippers have been playing shorthanded for several weeks as one key player has been injured. However, the Clippers are likely to be very shorthanded on Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

John Collins, who was initially listed as ‘probable’ to play with a left ankle sprain on Sunday evening against the Bucks, was downgraded to ‘doubtful’ on Monday afternoon after being evaluated by the team in the morning.

Collins’ appearance on the injury report comes after the Clippers forward injured his ankle with 1:11 remaining in the team’s fourth game of the quarterfinal against the Dallas Mavericks. John Collins, attempting to stop the Mavs from advancing on Nazi Marshall, takes a step and appears to twist his ankle, immediately falling to the ground and fouling Marshall in the process.

Collins left the game after picking up his sixth personal foul, finishing with eight points, three rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots in 29 minutes of play.

This is the play where John Collins turned his ankle and fouled out in Dallas.

He has been downgraded to questionable tonight with Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/DtQGkqfdhy

– Grant “Money” Mona (@Gmona48) 23 March 2026

Collins is now joined by Kawhi Leonard, who is also listed as ‘doubtful’ to play on Monday due to a left ankle sprain.

Leonard was able to finish Saturday night’s game against the Mavs, scoring 34 points on 12-of-22 shooting with three rebounds, five assists and two steals in 36 minutes of action.

The Milwaukee Bucks will also be significantly shorthanded on Monday night, playing the game without star Giannis Antetokounmpo as he deals with a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. Kevin Porter Jr. is also out for the Bucks, while Kyle Kuzma and Gary Harris are both considered ‘questionable’.

Monday night’s game will start at 7:30 pm PST.

Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks will face each other on Monday night. However, Kawhi Leonard is dealing with an ankle injury and is among the players listed on the injury report.

The Clippers are monitoring Leonard’s injury closely. Here’s everything we know about his status for tonight’s game vs. the Bucks.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Bucks

According to the NBA injury report, Leonard is questionable to play Monday night due to a sprained left ankle.

The Clippers are 35-36 overall and in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 29-41 Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Monday’s game is expected to be competitive. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for the Bucks due to injury. Leonard’s final injury status will certainly go a long way in determining the outcome of Monday’s game.

As far as the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing against the Bucks tonight, the answer is probably.

shear injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on Monday’s injury report.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• John Collins (left ankle sprain): Probable
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

bucks injury report

The Bucks also have five players on the injury report for the game.

• Gary Harris (left groin injury): probable
• Kyle Kuzma (right Achilles soreness): Questionable
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee hyperextension bone injury): Out
• Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis): out
• Alex Antetokounmpo (G League Two-Way): Out

The Los Angeles Clippers face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night and Kawhi Leonard is once again at the center of the injury report. He is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, putting the Clippers’ star in focus as the team tries to end a four-game losing streak and stay in the play-in race.

The Clippers entered the matchup at 34–36, No. 9 in the Western Conference, looking to regain momentum. Dallas, meanwhile, comes in at 23-47, No. 13 in the West, trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Here’s everything we know from the injury report about Kawhi Leonard and his game status vs. the Mavericks.

Kawhi Leonard has continued to be elite this season. He averaged 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 54 games. He is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three, as well as 89.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Additionally, Leonard continues to dictate the game on both ends. He makes his shots with ease and holds the Clippers defensively. His presence sets the tone and provides structure to Los Angeles in high-pressure moments.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Mavericks

The Clippers’ injury report makes Leonard’s situation particularly important. Bradley Beal (hip) is out with injuries, while Benedict Mathurin (toe) and Yannick Konan Niederhauser (foot) remain sidelined. Los Angeles can’t afford to lose another key piece as it struggles to stay in the play-in picture.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, are dealing with key absences. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Derek Lively II (foot) are out along with Brandon Williams (concussion). Several players are listed as questionable, including Caleb Martin (heel), Moussa Cisse, John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith.

The Clippers are looking for stability. The Mavericks are trying to stop the decline. So when it comes to whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Mavericks, the answer is uncertain. His status is questionable, and his availability will depend on pregame evaluation.

The LA Clippers are in the midst of a three-game road trip, currently the second night of a back-to-back set on Thursday night in New Orleans and the fifth game in a tough five-on-seven stretch for the team.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard returned Wednesday night after a one-game absence and played against the Pelicans. Leonard was previously unable to participate in Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs due to a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Leonard left the Kings’ game in the fourth quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. Kawhi Leonard made a quick recovery in time to play on Wednesday night, but will the game be played again on Thursday night?

Here’s everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard was listed as “doubtful” to play in the Clippers’ first contest against the Pelicans, and was eventually upgraded to available. The Clippers’ injury report for Thursday night has Leonard once again listed as “questionable” for the game with a left ankle sprain. This is the second night of back-to-back sets after recovering from injury, so Leonard will be in high gear.

Just before the game, the LA Clippers announced that Leonard had been ruled out of the game. The franchise has historically had a cautious history with the two-time NBA Finals MVP, but Leonard has placed an emphasis on playing as many games as possible, especially when the team is fighting for playoff position.

Worth watching is that guard Darius Garland has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game with a left big toe injury. He has not played a consistent match since his return and there is no reason to believe he will do so any time soon this season.

Kawhi Leonard has a bad reputation among NBA fans due to his unfortunate injuries, but he has played in both halves of nine back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 regular season with the Clippers, demonstrating his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level. In previous years, the Clippers have kept him out of back-to-back sets due to serious injuries, such as a torn ACL that ended his 2021 and 2022 postseasons, a torn meniscus that cut his 2023 postseason short, and knee inflammation that caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season and has played in 54 of the Clippers’ 69 games so far. Leonard missed 10 of the 15 games due to a severe right ankle sprain he suffered in November. Despite suffering a left ankle injury against the Spurs, Leonard finished with his 45th straight game of 20+ points, surpassing Bob McAdoo and setting a new franchise record. Leonard scored 25 points with eight rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting from the field on Wednesday, extending his streak of 20+ point games to 46, the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen anybody do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-24 in the 53 games that Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-11 in the 15 games he has not played. They’re also 0-3 in the three games Leonard has missed due to injury in the fourth quarter – against the Heat, Lakers and Kings.

Leonard is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 89.8 percent from the free-throw line. 28.2 points are the highest in his career.

The Clippers posted a 34–35 record, turning their season around and going 28–14 since starting the season 6–21. However, they have lost three games in a row and could face a fourth straight loss when they take on the Pelicans without Leonard and Garland.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (left ankle sprain): Out
• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Trey Alexander (G League – Two Way): Out
• Hunter Dickerson (G League – Two Way): Out
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Dejounte Murray (right Achilles injury management): out
• Josh Oduro (G League – Two Way): Out

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Clippers 124-109 in their last game on Wednesday night. Thursday’s game between the Clippers and Pelicans is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season.

The LA Clippers have been working with different lineups since the NBA trade deadline as the team looks for ways to incorporate their newest players.

Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson all joined the Clippers via trades during deadline week, as James Harden and Ivica Zubac were surprisingly shipped out in the process. However, on Wednesday night, the Clippers debuted their new look, which could be their lineup for the remainder of the season and the postseason if they qualify.

Kawhi Leonard warmed up and was upgraded to available just before the game, while Garland was upgraded to available after the team’s morning shootaround. Given the back-to-back sets they were playing, there was some concern that both could miss games.

Darius Garland started Wednesday’s game along with Derrick Jones Jr., Kawhi Leonard, John Collins and Brook Lopez, the first time those five have shared the floor this season. Chris Dunne was relegated to a role off the bench, with Collins replacing him in the starting lineup.

Clippers Starters:

darius garland
derrick jones jr
kawhi leonard
john collins
brook lopez

Pelican:

Dejounte Murray
Trey Murphy III
Saddiq Bey
zion williamson
herbert jones

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 18 March 2026

Since acquiring three players at the deadline, this Clippers team has still never been complete. Darius Garland missed the first month after the trade due to heavy management of recent toe injuries. Meanwhile, John Collins suffered two scary neck-related injuries and missed nine games due to them.

Although the Clippers are scheduled to debut their new starting lineup on Wednesday, they are still playing this entire three-game road trip without a big player in Benedict Mathurin. Mathurin has played 16 games for the Clippers, averaging 19.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

“We know we’ve got three tough games,” head coach Tyronn Lue said before Wednesday’s game. “We’ve just got to come out and take it one by one. I know it’s back-to-backs, but they’re playing hard, competing, and we’ve got to come out and do the same. We understand who they are. They’re playing to win, they’re playing for something, and we’ve got to get stuck in.”

The Clippers have fielded only one lineup that has played more than seven games this season, and two players from that lineup – James Harden and Ivica Zubac – were traded in early February. Since the deadline, the Clippers have been checking out different starting units as they try to figure out what works best for them. In total, the Clippers have used 21 different starting lineups, including Wednesday night.

On this three-game trip, the Clippers have the New Orleans Pelicans twice and the Dallas Mavericks once on Saturday night, before returning home for a two-game homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.

The LA Clippers begin a three-game two-city road trip starting with the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. This is the fourth game in a difficult five-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard was unable to play in Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs after suffering a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Leonard left the game in the fourth quarter, went back to the locker, and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard was suffering from a left ankle sprain and would be reevaluated before the upcoming three-game trip.

Here’s everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Pelicans.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard was listed as “questionable” to play in the Clippers’ home contest against the Spurs, and was ultimately ruled out of the contest in the afternoon. Leonard is once again listed on the Clippers’ injury report for Wednesday, but he has already been upgraded to “questionable” against the Pelicans, the first night of back-to-back sets and the end of a five-game stretch.

If Leonard plays in Wednesday night’s game, it is highly unlikely that he will also play in Thursday night’s game against the Pelicans, given the franchise’s cautious history with the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Another factor to consider is that Darius Garland is also listed as “questionable” to play in Wednesday’s game. He has not played a consistent match since his return and there is no reason to believe he will do so any time soon this season.

Despite bad signs due to his unfortunate injuries, Kawhi Leonard has played in both halves of nine back-to-back sets during the 2025-26 regular season with the Clippers, demonstrating his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level. In previous years, the Clippers have kept him out of back-to-back sets due to serious injuries, such as a torn ACL that ended his 2021 and 2022 postseasons, a torn meniscus that cut his 2023 postseason short, and knee inflammation that caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season and has played in 53 of the Clippers’ 68 games so far. Of the 15 games Leonard missed, 10 were due to a severe right ankle sprain. Despite suffering a left ankle injury against the Spurs, Leonard finished with his 45th straight game of 20+ points, surpassing Bob McAdoo and setting a new franchise record. Leonard’s current streak is the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen anybody do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-23 in the 53 games that Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-11 in the 15 games that he has not played. They’re also 0-3 in the three games Leonard has missed due to injury in the fourth quarter – against the Heat, Lakers and Kings.

Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free-throw line. 28.3 points are a career high.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–34 record, turning their season around to 28–13 since starting the season 6–21.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable
• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): Questionable.
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out
• Benedict Mathurin (recovering from right toe injury): Out

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have five players listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.

• Trey Alexander (G League – Two Way): Out
• Hunter Dickerson (G League – Two Way): Out
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Dejounte Murray (illness): Out
• Josh Oduro (G League – Two Way): Out

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Dallas Mavericks 129-111 in their last game on Monday night. Wednesday night’s game represents the third of four matchups between the LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The Los Angeles Clippers lost to the San Antonio Spurs 119–115, and Kawhi Leonard’s absence quickly became the main story. The star forward missed the game and his absence was felt at key moments at both ends of the field. According to Tomer Azzarly of ClutchPoints, Kawhi Leonard is day-to-day with the injury, but is expected to travel with the Clippers on their upcoming three-game road trip. The update offers some optimism, although questions still remain as the team tries to stabilize its season.

The Clippers are now 34-34 and in 8th place in the Western Conference. The team has lost two consecutive games, even though it has won seven of its last 10 games. Still, the defeat to Spurs highlighted a familiar issue. Without Leonard, execution becomes less reliable late in games. Crime slows down. The defense loses some lead. In such tough matches, it’s the little things that decide everything.

Leonard remains the engine of this team. He is averaging 28.3 points per game, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc. His efficiency and control shape the Clippers’ identity. When he plays, everything looks sharp. When he sits, the margin for error diminishes exponentially.

Road trip pressure increases for Clippers

Now comes a serious turn. The Clippers suffered back-to-back losses against the New Orleans Pelicans before taking on the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Both teams sit near the bottom of the Western Conference, but the Clippers can’t take any matchup lightly.

If Leonard returns, the Clippers will regain balance. Ball movement improves. Confidence awakens. If he remains marginalised, the pressure shifts to the supporting cast. As the playoff race gets tighter, each possession will carry more weight.

This road trip may shape their trajectory. Can the Clippers stay afloat while managing Kawhi Leonard’s injury, or will this stretch test their limits at the worst time?

Kawhi Leonard has been the best version of himself this season, scoring career-highs while being his usual, efficient self all over the court. But the LA Clippers star may miss out on NBA awards this season.

Named an NBA All-Star for the seventh time in his NBA career, Leonard has averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. He missed only 14 games this season, 10 of which came in November due to a sprained right ankle.

Leonard has unfortunately been ruled out of Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, which will be his 15th game this season. This means Leonard can only miss two more games before becoming ineligible for season-ending NBA awards.

As things stand, Kawhi Leonard is set to make an All-NBA team as well as an All-Defensive team, but missing two more games would put him on the list of stars who are already ineligible to join those teams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Stephen Curry are all among the players who are not eligible to win awards at season’s end, and several others are not far behind them.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic cannot miss any more games or he will be ineligible to win. Both Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic can miss only five more games before they are no longer eligible. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has played in 52 of the Spurs’ 67 games so far, leaving them with only two games of qualification left.

Last week, Kawhi Leonard reported what would allow him to have a career-year in his 14th season.

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” the Clippers star explained to ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

The Clippers only have 15 games remaining this season, including two back-to-back sets. Leonard has played nine back-to-back sets already this season, displaying a level of confidence in his health that the Clippers medical staff may not have seen in years past.

Monday night’s game between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PST on NBC.

Since its inception in 1946, the NBA has a rich and storied history in which countless stars have left their mark. LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is on his way to making history as he tries to lead his team out of the depths of the Western Conference standings and into the NBA Playoffs.

Behind the herculean efforts of Leonard, the Clippers are back in the playoff race this season, and now sit at 34-33 on the season. But it wasn’t long before things were looking grim, with just a 6-21 record, no draft selection to look forward to, and an aging roster that seemed to get even older before their eyes.

now in His 14th season in the NBAKawhi Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. This is the first time in NBA history that a player has averaged a career-high in points per game at the end of his NBA career.

Former LA Clippers guard Lou Williams became the first player in NBA history to average 20_ points in his 13th season or later. Williams became the second player in NBA history to have the highest career scoring average in his 13th season, joining Chauncey Billups.

Leonard has now passed both, and has done so while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 89.7 percent from the free throw line.

What has been the key to his success so far in his NBA career?

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” Kawhi Leonard told ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

On Saturday night, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in the Clippers’ home loss to the Sacramento Kings. This marked the 45th consecutive game that Leonard scored at least 20 points in a game, surpassing Bob McAdoo for most consecutive 20-point games in Clippers franchise history.

The 20-point streak now ranks 24th, equaling Tracy McGrady and Karl Malone’s streak of 45 consecutive games of 20+ points. Leonard’s streak at 128 is the second-longest active streak in the NBA behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of 126 consecutive games.

“It’s amazing,” Leonard said of making Clippers history. “Thank God I was able to play consistently this year and interact with the great players of the game.

“Just being on the floor and being able to play basketball is always great. In the NBA you go through a lot of ups and downs, either it’s a bad game, missing a shot, getting sick, or the team failing, and then the peak. It’s great to be able to interact with great guys like him.”

Leonard sprained his left ankle in Saturday night’s loss to the Kings, causing him to leave the game in the fourth quarter and exit early. He is listed as “doubtful” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, but he is likely to receive round-the-clock treatment and try to warm up before his status for the game is determined.

If he misses the game, it would be the 15th game missed by Kawhi Leonard this season, putting him close to the 17-game mark, which would eliminate him from eligibility for season-end NBA awards such as All-NBA Teams, All-Defensive Teams and MVP consideration.

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant are two of the greatest players of all time. Although both players are nearing the end of their careers, both are still playing at a high level. And when it comes to the debate over which player had the better career peak, NBA media personality Bill Simmons leans 55-45 toward Leonard.

During a recent episode of ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ as a guest of former NBA player and current analyst Tim Legler, Simmons explained why he’s leaning toward picking Kawhi Leonard over Kevin Durant as far as extremes go.

“If you’re talking about pure talented forwards in this century, LeBron is in first place. It’s probably him [Kawhi] For that second forward spot versus KD,” Simmons said. “In terms of pure talent, if I had an extreme version of either of these guys for a season, which one would you want, there’s a pretty good argument. . .It could be 55-45 towards Kawhi, that I would lean.

Durant is in his 18th season in the NBA while Leonard is in his 14th season. When it comes to accolades, Leonard has made six All-NBA teams, while Durant has made 11 All-NBA teams. Durant has one MVP award while Leonard has two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Leonard has seven All-Star appearances and Durant has 16 All-Star nominations.

Both players have two championships each along with two Finals MVP awards. It’s an interesting debate, but it’s certain that both are future Hall of Famers.

Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals this season, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from the 3-point line and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Durant is averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from the 3-point line and 88.6 percent from the free-throw line.

The LA Clippers are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the third game of a tough five-on-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard played in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, but left the game in the fourth quarter due to a left ankle injury. After the game, the Clippers announced that Leonard was suffering from a left ankle sprain, and would be reevaluated.

Everything we know about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Spurs.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Spurs

Kawhi Leonard was unlisted on the Clippers’ injury report for Saturday night’s game against the Kings, the second game of a back-to-back set. Leonard had been playing in consistent sets this season when healthy, but sprained his left ankle for the second time after the NBA All-Star break.

Leonard is listed as “questionable” to play in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, and it appears he will be held out of the game. The LA Clippers are expected to make it official around 6pm PST, after Leonard has finished his usual pre-game workout routine and is evaluated by the medical staff.

Kawhi Leonard has played nine consecutive sets with the Clippers this season, indicating that he is healthy enough to play. In years past, the Clippers have kept him out of most back-to-back sets, but that was largely due to his injuries, such as a torn ACL, torn meniscus and knee inflammation, which caused him to miss the 2024 postseason.

Leonard has been mostly healthy this season, playing 53 of the Clippers’ 67 games so far, 10 of which were missed due to a severe right ankle sprain. Despite the injury on Saturday, Leonard surpassed Bob McAdoo with his 45th-straight games of 20+ points, setting a new franchise record. Leonard’s current streak is the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Passing McAdoo is a huge accomplishment,” Tyronn Lue recently said of Kawhi Leonard. “He was a really good player, great player, and it says a lot about Kawhi. When he’s healthy, you know, what he’s done this year is crazy. Someone asked the other day, ‘Have you seen someone do that in their 14th season, which is more than what they’ve averaged their entire career?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ Because I see the work he does every day. I see what he does every night to get on the floor and try to play. He plays as healthy as he is. And it may take him a long time to do so.

This season, the Clippers are 30-23 in the 53 games Kawhi Leonard has played and 4-10 in the 14 games he has not played. Leonard is averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free throw line.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–33 record, turning their season around to 28–12 since starting the season 6–21.

When it comes to the question of whether Kawhi Leonard is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is probably no.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have three players listed on the injury report for Monday night’s game.

• Kawhi Leonard (sprained left ankle): Questionable.
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

Spurs injury report

Spurs have five players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Dylan Harper (right calf injury): out
• Harrison Ingram (G League – Two Way): Out
• David Jones Garcia (G League – Two Way): Out
• Luke Cornet (right knee soreness): out
• Emmanuel Miller (G League – Two Way): Out

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-102 on Saturday night before beginning their flight to Los Angeles. Monday night’s game represents the second of three matchups between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.

Just as the LA Clippers got John Collins back from injury and finally healthy, they may have lost Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard left Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a left ankle injury and was immediately taken out of the game after returning to the Clippers locker room. This was not the only injury suffered by Leonard, as the Clippers star suffered a laceration to his left eyelid after a collision with Kings star DeMar DeRozan, but he was able to return after being shut down.

After an ankle injury, leonard limped forward Expressed disappointment on the bench and the injury that has plagued him throughout the season.

Kawhi Leonard was in a lot of pain and had to go to the locker room.

It seemed as if he was holding his ribs or chest.

It is difficult to tell from here. pic.twitter.com/7AKaVohF6Z

– Grant “Money” Mona (@Gmona48) 15 March 2026

Kawhi Leonard finished Saturday night’s loss with 31 points, six rebounds and two steals, while shooting 13 of 23 from the field and 2 of 6 from three, but only 3 of 6 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of play. It was the second night of a back-to-back set for the Clippers and their ninth game in the first 14 days of the month.

After the game, head coach Tyronn Lue said the team had no update on Leonard’s injury.

Kawhi Leonard is reevaluated on Sunday afternoon, and the team announced that he is questionable to play in Monday night’s game against Victor Vembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. This is clearly a better sign than ruling him out of the game, with Leonard expected to receive treatment over the next 24 hours in preparation for the game.

Kawhi Leonard is questionable to play tomorrow for the Clippers vs. Spurs due to a sprained left ankle.

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 16 March 2026

Leonard also missed the Clippers’ home loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 26 due to a left ankle injury. That game occurred during a week in which the Clippers were scheduled to play only one game – against the Wolves – in seven days.

Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard had his 45th consecutive game of 20 or more points against the Kings, setting a new franchise record for most consecutive 20+ point games in Clippers franchise history. Leonard surpassed legend Bob McAdoo’s previous record of 44-straight, and has the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On the season, Kawhi Leonard has played in 53 of the Clippers’ 67 games, averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while playing 32.4 minutes a night. The 28.3 points per game are a career high for Leonard, the only player in NBA history with the highest career scoring average in his 14th season or later. Leonard is shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Clippers, who are 34-33 on the season, have won 28 of their last 40 games after starting the season 6-21.

正当洛杉矶快船队让约翰·柯林斯伤愈复出并最终康复时，他们可能失去了科怀·伦纳德。

伦纳德因左脚踝受伤缺席了周六晚上对阵萨克拉门托国王队的比赛，当他回到快船队更衣室时，他很快就被排除在比赛之外。这并不是伦纳德遭受的唯一伤害，这位快船球星在与国王队球星德玛尔·德罗赞相撞后，左眼睑被撕裂，但在伤势痊愈后又得以复出。

脚踝受伤后， 伦纳德一瘸一拐地走了过来 替补席上，并对似乎整个赛季都困扰他的伤病表示沮丧。

科怀·伦纳德感到非常痛苦，不得不去更衣室。

看起来他正在抓住他的肋骨或胸部。

从这里很难说。 pic.twitter.com/7AKaVohF6Z

— 格兰特“金钱”莫娜 (@Gmona48) 2026 年 3 月 15 日

科怀·伦纳德在周六晚上的比赛中出场 26 分钟，23 投 13 中，三分球 6 投 2 中，得到 31 分、6 个篮板和 2 次抢断，但罚球线只有 6 投 3 中。这是快船队背靠背比赛的第二个晚上，也是他们本月前 14 天的第九场比赛。

赛后，主教练泰伦·卢表示球队没有关于伦纳德伤势的最新消息。

科怀·伦纳德被重新评估 周日下午，球队宣布他无法参加周一晚上对阵维克托·温班亚马和圣安东尼奥马刺队的比赛。这显然比简单地将他排除在比赛之外是一个更好的迹象，伦纳德预计将在接下来的 24 小时内接受治疗，为比赛做准备。

科怀·伦纳德因左脚踝扭伤，无法代表快船队明天对阵马刺队的比赛。

— 托默·阿扎利 (@TomerAzarly) 2026 年 3 月 16 日

伦纳德还因左脚踝受伤缺席了2月26日快船队主场对阵明尼苏达森林狼队的比赛。那场比赛发生在快船队在 7 天内只打一场比赛——对阵狼队的一周内。

尽管输掉了比赛，科怀·伦纳德在对阵国王队的比赛中连续45场比赛得分超过20分，这创造了快船队历史上连续最多20分以上的球队纪录。伦纳德超越了传奇人物鲍勃·麦卡杜此前保持的 44 场连胜纪录，成为仅次于俄克拉荷马城雷霆队球星谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大的第二长连续活跃纪录。

本赛季，科怀·伦纳德为快船出战67场比赛中的53场，场均上场32.4分钟，得到28.3分、6.4个篮板、3.8次助攻和2.1次抢断。伦纳德场均得到28.3分，创下职业生涯新高，他也是NBA历史上唯一一位在第14个赛季及之后场均得分达到职业生涯新高的球员。伦纳德的投篮命中率为50.3%，三分命中率为38%，罚球命中率为90.6%。

快船队本赛季战绩34胜33负，自赛季开局6胜21负以来，他们在过去40场比赛中赢了28场。

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.

Hall of Fame finalist Blake Griffin is making strides in his first season as a TV analyst, including fun moments like his recent impression of LA Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard. Griffin was added to Prime’s broadcast team in the NBA’s inaugural season and is often the comic relief.

griffin made everyone laugh When he did the best impression of Leonard’s laugh from the Clippers forward’s famous moment during his introduction press conference with the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA on Prime.

Taylor Rooks, Dwyane Wade and John Wall all laughed at Griffin’s impression of the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, causing Griffin to do it more than once.

Blake Griffin opens up about Clippers relationship, prime deal

After Chris Paul and the Clippers went their separate ways, Blake Griffin didn’t express his frustration with the situation. However, Griffin says he still maintains a good relationship with the Clippers organization.

Griffin discussed the Clippers and his new broadcasting career as part of the NBA in an exclusive conversation with Tomer Azzarly of ClutchPoints on Prime.

“I’m still friendly with a lot of the people who work at the organization,” Griffin told ClutchPoints. “I didn’t get a chance to go to the new arena last year, but I’ve talked to Lawrence Frank from time to time and I intend to try to get over there and visit the arena. I mean, it’s definitely not a no-no. I just, I was busy and chasing kids around and I didn’t get a chance to go there. But those fans and that organization definitely hold a special place in my heart.”

As far as his new TV career goes, Griffin is having a lot of fun talking the NBA with some familiar faces.

“It’s incredible to have the opportunity to be on the panel with Eudy, Dirk, Steve, Taylor Rooks,” Griffin said. “So I’m excited.”

The NBA on Prime will air the Bucks-Hawks game on Saturday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 153–128. It was a bad night for the Wolves defense, as they allowed Kawhi Leonard to torture them for 45 points. After the game, Anthony Edwards spoke honestly about Leonard and his position in the NBA.

“With all sincerity, Kavi [Leonard] When healthy, he could be one of the best players to ever play the game. I think many of his teammates feel the same way about him. If he’s healthy (100%) Kawhi is unstoppable.”

-Anthony Edwards

(via @timberwolves)
pic.twitter.com/XEeP4kUbCH

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 12 March 2026

Edwards was amazed at Leonard and his ability to do anything to help the Clippers win. That was more than evident in this game, as the superstar helped the Clippers take a 38-27 lead after the first quarter. It was still a 12-point game in the third quarter. Still, the Clippers blew everything out of the water in the fourth and Leonard helped them get there. The situation got so bad that a fight broke out on the court between the Clippers and Timberwolves.

Edwards bounced back from a poor game against the Lakers, leading the Wolves with 36 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. However, no other starter scored above 11. Naz Reed had 18 points off the bench.

The Wolves shot 59.7% from the field, including 44% from the three-point line. However, they allowed the Clippers to shoot 63.4% from the floor, including 51.4% from beyond the arc. The Wolves turned the ball over 21 times, giving the Clippers many opportunities to take advantage.

Leonard’s 45 points came on 15 of 20 shooting, including 6 of 9 from the triple. Darius Garland helped with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Benedict Mathurin had 22 points off the bench on 5 of 10 shooting.

The Wolves fell in the standings for the second consecutive day, falling to sixth place in the Western Conference. They are 40-26 as they prepare for their next game, which will be against the Golden State Warriors on Friday in San Francisco.

The NBA world continues to react to Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s spectacular 83-point performance. As NBA players and coaches continue to share their insights about the game, even the best players are not holding back.

On Wednesday night, the LA Clippers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128, led by a 45-point effort from Kawhi Leonard. In his 32 minutes of play, Kawhi scored 45 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out five assists, and missed only five of his 30 total shot attempts on the night.

After the game, Leonard was asked about Bam Adebayo scoring 83 points, and he gave a very Kawhi Leonard answer.

“I haven’t had a chance to see it, but it’s amazing,” Leonard said. “He’s a hard-working guy, getting better every year. It’s something to see. I’m happy for him.”

Kawhi Leonard on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game:

“I didn’t get a chance to see it, but it’s amazing. He’s a hard-working guy, getting better every year. It’s worth seeing. I’m happy for him.” pic.twitter.com/IEuV2PgJmR

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 12 March 2026

Bam Adebayo finished his historic night by scoring 83 points with nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots in 42 minutes of play. Adebayo shot 20 of 43 from the field, 7 of 22 from three and 36 of 43 from the free throw line.

With the points total, Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant for the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain.

Bam Adebayo has set a new record for the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant.

83 points 20-of-43 FG
9 rebounds 7-of-22 3pts
3 ASSETS 36-IN-43 FT
2 theft
2 blocks pic.twitter.com/ZkdhRV5m17

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 11 March 2026

Leonard was one of the few NBA superstars who has had incredible performances. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo praised Adebayo for the effort and dismissed any notion that Adebayo’s play was not impressive.

“It’s unbelievable,” Antetokounmpo said after the Bucks’ home loss to the Suns on Wednesday night. “83 is incredible. It says a lot about his hard work. I haven’t seen the game yet, I have to see the game. He took 43 free throws? It doesn’t matter how you got there. What matters is that you got it. Like 10, 20, 30 years from now, no one will remember how many free throw shots he shot. I don’t think I remember how many shots Kobe shot or how many free throws he made or Three. You don’t remember that, Wilt.

“At the end of the day, he got 83 points. Amazing way to help his team win. I know his family and close friends are extremely excited and happy for him. The game reflects his hard work. I know that Bam, he works hard every day, never cheats the game. It’s incredible to see a guy like him do that.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored by Bam
He spoke on 83 issues:

💬 “It doesn’t matter how you did it. What matters is that you did it. In 30 years, no one will be talking about how many free throws you made.

“I don’t remember how many free throws and three-pointers Kobe made.” pic.twitter.com/c45SD03DfZ

– Everything NBA (@herseynba) 11 March 2026

Even Kevin Durant, who spent time with Adebayo during Team USA’s Olympic gold medal run in 2024, expressed his interest in the Heat star having a big scoring night.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it in real time,” the Houston Rockets star said Wednesday. “It seems like he got 30 in the first quarter. Congratulations to Bam. I know how much he works. I looked at the stat sheet, it’s crazy. He had 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 threes. It takes a lot of stamina, a lot of energy to make those shots and then make them, set a record, surpass Kobe as the second-highest scorer in the history of the game. Congratulations to him. That’s a huge accomplishment to be talking about.” I’ll always keep talking.”

I asked Kevin Durant about Bam Adebayo’s 83 point game.

“Something we’ll always talk about.” pic.twitter.com/mRXm3XkBrY

– Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) 11 March 2026

Bam Adebayo’s big night will surely have more players speaking out as he continues to be asked about it, but one thing is for sure: NBA stars and the Miami Heat star’s teammates are excited for the new, second-best scorer in NBA history.

The Los Angeles Clippers not only beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night; He embarrassed them. But while Kawhi Leonard was busy putting on a historic masterpiece, the real fireworks began after the final buzzer sounded at the Intuit Dome.

In a game in which Leonard went completely nuclear, the Clippers won 153–128, which was marred by a post-game brawl. Tensions eventually flared up when a heated exchange broke out between Naz Reed, Jaden McDaniels and Benedict Mathurin, requiring teammates and security to separate the groups. The frustration on the part of the Minnesota Timberwolves was understandable, considering they were on the wrong end of one of the most efficient scoring performances in NBA history.

Naz Reed, Jaden McDaniels and Benedict Mathurin get into an altercation after the game 👀

pic.twitter.com/EAf5Y3T93J https://t.co/rwzwGhRYRu

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 12 March 2026

Kawhi Leonard was the catalyst for all that frustration. “The Claw” finished with 45 points, five rebounds and five assists, but efficiency was the terrible part. Leonard shot a whopping 15 of 20 from the field, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. He also missed 9 of 10 free throws, essentially scoring at will against a Minnesota defense that currently ranks among the league’s elite.

While Anthony Edwards tried to keep pace with 36 points, the Timberwolves had no answer for a Clippers team that shot 63 percent as a unit. Julius Randle contributed 18 points in the loss, but the lack of defensive resistance clearly took its toll on the visiting team. The postgame melee between Mathurin and the Timberwolves’ frontcourt duo looked like a direct byproduct of a 25-point blowout.

For the Clippers, this win did more than just provide highlights; It takes them above the .500 mark for the first time since their disappointing 5-20 start. If Leonard continues to play at this “cyborg” level of efficiency, the rest of the Western Conference players are going to have a lot more to worry about.

The LA Clippers have been one of the league’s best teams since Dec. 20, but Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland are still content with one month remaining in the NBA’s 2025-26 regular season.

After starting the season 6–21, the Clippers have bounced back and are 26–11, reaching .500 for the first time since the early parts of the season. The Clippers moved to a 32-32 record with a win over the New York Knicks on Monday night to move past the Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

But Kawhi Leonard wasn’t ready to celebrate anything just yet.

“It’s nice, you know, but the job’s not done,” Kawhi Leonard admitted after the game. “The season isn’t over. That’s to be expected. Like I tell the guys, you don’t train to lose, you train to win, so yeah, it’s OK.”

Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, including seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals, in the Clippers’ win over the Knicks, while making 10 of 19 shots from the field in 35 minutes of play.

After the game Leonard spoke with several Clippers players about the importance of maintaining their focus throughout the remainder of this regular season.

“We just talked to some players about it,” Leonard said. “Today, when I heard we were .500. Like I said, the job’s not done, we’ve still got games to play, so there’s nothing to be happy about.”

In his fourth game with the Clippers since returning from a foot injury, Darius Garland played a strong game as he worked his way through the minutes restriction. Garland scored 23 points with seven assists and two steals in 30 minutes of play, knocking down five three-pointers in the process.

He echoed Kawhi Leonard’s sentiments after the game, saying there is still more work to be done.

“I’m just here to win games,” Darius Garland said after the win over the Knicks. “That’s what we do, work in the offseason to win games so it’s exciting to get back to .500, but we still have a lot more work to do. We’re not done yet.

“[Being .500] Just a number. As I said before, we’re not done yet. There are still a lot of games left, and hopefully we’ll win some of them so keep trying, keep working on yourself, don’t worry about anyone else. We have to get better as a team, especially with our new guys getting acclimated and everything like that, so yeah, we’re just worried about the Clippers here.

Head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged that reaching .500 after being 15 games behind and deep in trouble is an accomplishment in itself.

“It means a lot,” head coach Tyronn Lue explained. “Our guys in the locker room stuck with it, kept fighting, kept competing. We thought we should have been better and could have been better. Injuries hurt us, but this team, since I’ve been here six years, our guys always keep fighting when our backs are against the wall.”

“I give credit to our coaching staff they did a great job sticking with it, staying positive, continuing to help these guys get better. Starting 6-21 and getting to .500 right now is huge for us.”

The Clippers still face an uphill battle as they try to continue their lead in the Western Conference standings. As of Tuesday night, the Clippers are the eighth seed despite having the same 32-32 record as the Golden State Warriors as they currently lead the season series 2-1 with one game remaining on the final night of the regular season.

The Phoenix Suns have played five games on the Clippers, and have continued to play well despite missing players like Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, and Mark Williams all year.

The Golden State Warriors are going through a tough phase at the moment and have lost three of their last four matches. However, they have also come up against some top teams, with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and most recently the Oklahoma City Thunder all testing Golden State.

To make things even worse, a plethora of injuries have left the Warriors that is Draymond Green having to lead the defense against some of the best players in the league. And well, the 36-year-old Warriors veteran considers it a ‘badge of honour’.

“I’m a very arrogant person. I can’t go out there and commit murder.”

Draymond Green on accepting the challenge of guarding Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in consecutive games at the age of 36. pic.twitter.com/OWov1JaSRg

-Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) 8 March 2026

“Think our coaching staff realizes that I have a lot of energy when I get stuff like that. Because, like I said, if coach calls on me to guard Kawhi, to guard KD, to guard Shea, that’s a badge of honor. I mean, I’m 36 years old, three games in a row, that’s a badge of honor,” Drummond said in a post on X by Warriors reporter Joseph Dykes. Explained accordingly.

Green said it was ‘amazing’ to be tasked by Steve Kerr with protecting these players at this point in his career, and it energized him greatly. This is also evident from the fact that the four-time champion leaves everything behind whenever he is on the court.

Against the Thunder, he was not only the defensive lynchpin, but also the Warriors’ third-highest scorer with 16 points.

“And so, then I have to take that responsibility and make sure we don’t have to help each other. And yet, I’m a very proud person. I can’t go out there and commit murder. That’s what happens when you’re playing against great players like that. But, at the same time, for me, I just can’t lay down. I can’t go out there and feel like it’s easy,” Green said.

And while there have been critics who have questioned his over-the-top playing style, Green’s commitment is unmatched, and perhaps the biggest reason why he has been a consistent winner with the Warriors for over a decade.

Although he left the Alamo City on strained terms, Kawhi Leonard has largely been a supporter of the San Antonio Spurs since the 2018 trade that sent him to the Toronto Raptors. After a 116–112 loss, in which his Los Angeles Clippers blew a 25-point lead, Clough didn’t hesitate in praising the organization he helped win an NBA title in 2014.

After their first meeting of the season, ClutchPoints asked Leonard if he thought the young Spurs were ahead of schedule.

“Obviously, probably no one thought they’d be this good so quickly. But, they have great individual players, a great coaching staff. The organization has always known how to win basketball here. So, they’re putting everything together,” the seven-time NBA All-Star responded.

Los Angeles’ leading scorer then fouled out his Spurs counterpart.

“This team; the league is young. So it’s all about speed and run and if you have a shooter at the five, like Wembey or anybody who can shoot threes and block shots, your chances of winning are even greater.”

“…Probably no one thought they’d become so good so quickly… They have great individual players, great coaching staff. The organization always knows how to win…
They’re just putting it all together…”⬇️

-Talked to the poet about what he thinks #spurs are ahead of schedule#porvida pic.twitter.com/IYX2uDbPBa

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 7 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 in just 22 minutes, but the 2023 first overall draft pick wasn’t the only standout spurt to earn praise from the 34-year-old star.

“[Stephon] Cassel is playing very well, had a great rookie year and has taken a step forward this year and gotten better. I like what he’s doing on the court. He is getting better. “It’s fun to go out there and compete against younger guys, giving us some advantages here and there,” Leonard said of San Antonio’s star guard.

“When you’re trying to win a game, you’ve got to play on both ends of the floor,” the two-time NBA champion said.

Leonard finished with a game-high 30 points for a Clippers team that advanced from play-in contention in the Silver and Black.

“You never know. Nobody can say if they are ahead of schedule or not, you just have to see how it all plays out,” the former Spur concluded from ClutchPoints about the team finishing second in the Western Conference.

“We’ve been steady, but you’ve got to give the Spurs credit,” Leonard added. “They’re a great defensive team, they have some great individual defenders. Wembey is unbelievable and he made us miss shots.”

Kawhi Leonard downplays constant ridicule from Spurs fans

Leonard, once considered the next face of a proud franchise, was essentially forced out of San Antonio when he requested a trade following a lengthy controversy centered on an injury that led to a strained relationship. Since then, the 2011 first-round pick has often been criticized when he won Finals MVP in 2014.

Leonard said the boo birds don’t bother him.

“As soon as the game starts, you hear that. But after a while, you hear the cheers and I get a lot of love whenever I walk around town. So, like I said before, it’s a competitive fan base, so they’re not going to be on the court cheering for you to score. But after the game, it’s all love.”

Some, perhaps many, fans in San Antonio would not agree. However one thing is certain. Leonard doesn’t mind showing these Spurs love.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, when the LA Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, there were two teams in particular who reportedly jumped to inquire about Kawhi Leonard’s availability. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, it was revealed on Friday that one of the teams interested in a potential Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers was the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors’ original trade deadline targets were believed to be Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr. His interest in Kawhi Leonard was ignited after the Clippers trades, which seemingly signaled a reset. When none of those potential deals came to fruition, the Warriors turned to their backup plan which was the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Leonard is entering the final year of his contract with the Clippers, which is worth approximately $50.3 million. Siegel suggests he may once again attract trade interest from opposing teams. This could be a similar situation to when the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard was in the final year of his deal at the time, and ultimately left the franchise in free agency after only one season. But it was still a success for the Raptors because it got them a championship.

Despite injury problems the past few seasons, Leonard has been relatively healthy this year and has been among the NBA’s top players. He has appeared in 47 games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged career-highs of 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals while splitting 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 90.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers moved closer to the .500 mark with a convincing win over the Golden State Warriors after outscoring the Dubs by 15 points in the fourth quarter. This game marked the Clippers debut of point guard Darius Garland, who came off the bench and scored 12 points with two assists in 23 minutes of action.

After the game, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for the performance the young guard brought to the table.

“Number one, just competitive nature…we’re looking for him to get involved, get him some shots, push the transition pace for us, and just get everybody involved and call sets so we don’t get stagnant at times. I think he’s capable of doing that. He’s an All-Star player. I’m just looking forward to playing more basketball with him,” Leonard said, according to former Joe Lynn on Twitter.

Garland was brought to the Clippers after the team surprisingly traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before the deadline.

The 26-year-old has been a two-time All-Star in the NBA, although injury concerns have unfortunately become a major part of the story of his career in recent years, and Los Angeles will hope those concerns subside for the rest of this season and beyond.

While he may not be as adept at making plays as Harden, Garland is still a capable distributor capable of creating his own offense off the dribble, as well as a solid catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc.

All of these tools make him a good fit next to Leonard in Los Angeles, even if the team further depleted their roster at the deadline by sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.

The Clippers next face Indiana on Wednesday evening.

Last season, Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn was denied the honor for his defensive efforts. However, his efforts this season are being rewarded by teammates Kawhi Leonard and Darrisu Garland.

According to Clippers beat writer Joey Lynn, Leonard, in particular, is campaigning for Dunn to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

“He’s been very good all year, even last year, I think he should definitely be First Team All-Defense this year. I’m not sure what the requirements are, I know he didn’t make it last year because of minutes or something like that. Hopefully he’s hitting those minutes because he’ll definitely get First Team or Second Team. I think he definitely should, the way I’m watching him play last year and this year.” “I am.”

According to The Athletic’s Law Murray, on Monday, Leonard and Garland reiterated their conviction that Dunn is worthy of such an honor.

“Should be first team all-around defense this year,” Leonard said.

“KD – just a beast,” Garland said.

Talked to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland about Kris Dunn last night

Kawhi: “Must be first team on all defense this year”

DG: “KD – just a beast” pic.twitter.com/FOs8VeE8Gd

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 3 March 2026

The Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 114–101. Overall, Dunn finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Additionally, he also recorded two thefts.

Meanwhile, Leonard led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, Garland finished the game with 12 points in his debut with the Clippers.

As a result, the Clippers are 29-31.

Dunn currently has a defensive rating of 107.1. He is known for having a similar defensive presence. During the 2024–25 season, Dunn consistently averaged 3.3 steals a game.

Additionally, Dunn is posting his highest defensive rating of 114.0 so far from the 2021-22 season.

科怀·伦纳德在周日晚上洛杉矶快船队战胜新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中表现出色，取得了球队历史上令人印象深刻的壮举。

伦纳德正在经历他 NBA 职业生涯的第 15 个赛季，这是他在快船队的第七个赛季。尽管伤病影响了他在球队的表现，但当他健康时，他仍然作为联盟中最好的老将球星之一闪闪发光。

他最近对阵新奥尔良的比赛是他精英技能的另一个例子。伦纳德出战29分钟，得到23分、5次助攻、3个篮板和1次抢断。他投篮18投8中，其中三分线外7投1中，罚球线7投6中。

伦纳德因此保持了他连续 37 场比赛拿下 20 分的记录。据记者托默·阿扎利报道，他因此创造了球队历史，在统计数据中他与鲍勃·麦卡杜并列。

“科怀·伦纳德已经连续37场比赛得分超过20分。这是球队历史上第三长的连续得分记录。科怀·伦纳德和鲍勃·麦卡杜一起成为球队历史上唯一一位连续37场比赛得到20分的球员，”阿扎利写道。

快船队科怀·伦纳德如何对阵鹈鹕队

科怀·伦纳德继续令人印象深刻，带领快船队以 137-117 击败鹈鹕队。

洛杉矶队有五名球员得分上双，其中包括伦纳德。乔丹·米勒表现出色，得到19分、8次助攻、3次抢断和2个篮板。他总共6投5中，其中市中心1投1中，慈善地带11投8中。小德里克·琼斯拿下17分和2个篮板，布鲁克·洛佩兹得到16分和7个篮板，约翰·科林斯得到15分和7个篮板。

洛杉矶队本赛季战绩为28胜31负，在西部积分榜上排名第九。他们领先于波特兰开拓者队和孟菲斯灰熊队，同时落后于金州勇士队和菲尼克斯太阳队。

快船队将期待下一场客场比赛。他们将迎战勇士队，比赛将于美国东部时间 3 月 2 日晚上 10 点进行。

Kawhi Leonard accomplished an impressive feat in franchise history after his performance in the Los Angeles Clippers’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Leonard is in the 15th season of his NBA career, his seventh with the Clippers. Despite injuries impacting his time with the franchise, he continued to shine as one of the league’s best veteran stars when healthy.

His latest game against New Orleans was another example of his elite skills. In 29 minutes of action, Leonard finished with a stat line of 23 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. He shot 8 of 18 from the field, including 1 of 7 from beyond the arc and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.

As a result, Leonard has maintained his 20-point streak for the 37th consecutive game. As a result, according to reporter Tomer Azzarly, he made franchise history by tying with Bob McAdoo in statistical scoring.

“Kawhi Leonard has extended his streak of 20+ point games to 37 straight. This is the third-longest streak in franchise history. Kawhi becomes the only player in franchise history to score 20 points in 37 consecutive games, joining Bob McAdoo,” Azarly wrote.

Kawhi Leonard, how the Clippers played against the Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard’s impressive performance continues, leading the Clippers to a dominant 137-117 win over the Pelicans.

Five players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Leonard. Jordan Miller delivered a strong performance with 19 points, eight assists, three steals and two rebounds. He made 5 of 6 shots overall, including 1 of 1 from downtown and 8 of 11 from the charity stripe. Derrick Jones Jr. was next with 17 points and two rebounds, Brook Lopez had 16 points and seven rebounds, while John Collins provided 15 points and seven rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 28–31 record on the season and finished ninth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies while trailing the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Warriors as tip-off takes place on March 2 at 10 PM ET.

The reshuffled Los Angeles Clippers (27-30) host the surging Minnesota Timberwolves (36-23) on Thursday night for a primetime Western Conference clash at the Intuit Dome. The Clippers are on a two-game slump after losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic and have several names on the injury list.

According to the official report, Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness. The same is true for John Collins, who is dealing with a neck issue, while Darius Garland and Bradley Beal are both out.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Timberwolves

Despite scoring a big 37 points playing through an injury last time out against Orlando, Kawhi Leonard is a game-time decision. However, the Clippers are sitting precariously in the 10th and final play-in spot in the West, so the stakes are incredibly high.

Edwards has been a complete disappointment since winning All-Star Game MVP, averaging 34 points in his last three contests, including a 34-point masterclass in a 124-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Clippers desperately need their own talisman to perform well.

Led by Edwards (29.6 ppg), the Timberwolves boast the third-ranked scoring attack in the NBA with 119.6 points per game. On February 8, a healthy Leonard methodically destroyed the Timberwolves for 41 points in a 115–96 blowout.

Regardless, Minnesota has a clean bill of health for this game, with their only absence being due to a G League assignment. Therefore, a lot depends on whether the poet is suitable or not. The Timberwolves will look to get revenge any way they can, but Leonard’s presence could play a major role in deciding the contest.

shear injury report

• Kawhi Leonard: Doubtful (pain in left ankle)
• John Collins: Suspicious (head injury, neck pain)
• bradley beal: Outside (left hip; fracture)
• Darius Garland: Outside (left big toe; injury management)

timberwolves injury report

• Jules Bernard: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Enrique Freeman: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Rocco Zikarski: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Paolo Banchero capped the Orlando Magic’s four-game Western Conference road trip with a 36-point performance in a 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, but his impact extended beyond scoring. In consecutive matchups against Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, Banchero took over the primary defensive duties, highlighting his ability as an elite two-way player.

Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes – including the game-winning putback – praised Banchero’s defensive focus and competitiveness.

“Man, when P gets locked in defensively he’s one of the best in this league. In my opinion he has the potential to be one of the best two-way players to play this game. He had two big challenges the other night with Kawhi and then tonight with Luka. He accepted that challenge. When he’s in that mode, when he’s locked in, man, it unlocks his team and takes us to another level.”

On Sunday, Leonard scored 37 points against Orlando, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, while shooting 14 of 25 from the field. Two nights later, Doncic faced a more disruptive defensive presence from the Magic. The Lakers star finished with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, but shot 8-for-24 from the field and 2-for-10 from 3-point range while committing two turnovers.

Wendell Carter Jr. on Paolo Banchero’s defense this season:

“When P is off defensively, he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential to be one of the best two-way players ever…When he’s in that mode, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/qHDu8BIgJ6

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

Paolo Banchero accepts the challenge of protecting elite scorers

Banchero addressed the defensive responsibility of protecting leading scorers throughout the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s just me, you know, accepting the challenge. You know, I think a lot of times, you know, coaches want to, you know, have some better players to guard a guy. They don’t have to expend as much energy. But, you know, getting Jalen out, Franz out, they’re our two best perimeter defenders. And so I know I’ve got to step up on that side of the ball. And I’m a big I feel like I’m a good defender, especially on one on, guarding big guys, big guards.”

He acknowledged the difficulty of controlling the stars but emphasized effort and physicality.

Paolo on defending Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic in the last two games:

“With Jalen and Franz out, I know I have to step up. I’m a big guy, I can step up. You can’t stop guys like that, but you can be tough on them – make them miss some, force them to work.” pic.twitter.com/HMurC2OMrI

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

“And so guarding guys like that, you can’t stop them from scoring, but you can get your heart on them, make them miss some shots, just make them expend a lot of energy. So that’s just what I’m trying to do. Kawhi obviously had a big night, but getting some stops and making it difficult and, you know, seeing him as a great player and just a creator with the ball in his hands, you know, he just Know what my body is trying to show you, be there when it’s trying to show off, pretend.

Banchero’s offensive output remained steady. Against the Lakers, he added 10 rebounds and six assists while shooting 12 of 22 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes.

Magic cover Luka Doncic as Banchero delivers late against Lakers

Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the collective challenge of defending Doncic while highlighting Banchero’s timely shot making.

“Listen, sometimes when he shoots, you just have to hope it doesn’t go in. Because he’s so good and when the game was on the line, he took the big three that put them up by three. And Paolo comes back and hits one. As soon as he goes up in a corner, you know it’s good because that’s what he did. I’ve seen him do it. He did it when we were in Dallas when we played in Portland. I did the same thing. Saw the perfect shot. So you just have to keep mixing up the coverages against him, make it tough, try your best to make it without fouls, and just keep making it tough against him.”

Orlando limited Doncic’s efficiency, holding him below his season average of 32.5 points. With the win, the Magic improved to 31–26 and had road wins over both Los Angeles teams in the same season for the first time since 2012–13.

The Magic return home on Thursday to begin a four-game homestand against the Houston Rockets (35-21). As Orlando continues its push into the Eastern Conference standings, Banchero’s willingness to defend elite scorers while carrying the offensive load underscores the franchise cornerstone’s growing two-way ceiling.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard earned high praise from an Orlando Magic player after Sunday night’s 111-109 loss, with Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. calling him “the best player in this league.”

Leonard put in a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 14 of 25 from the field, 2 of 7 from 3-point range, and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.

After the game, Carter reflected on the challenge of defending Leonard.

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. Again, he gets his spots whenever he wants. Very calm, very collective. He never feels like he’s rushed or sharp at all. Very strong defensively, guards, most guys on the court. So he’s one of those guys you try to block throughout the game, make it tough, make everybody tough for him and then late in the game as we “Try to take the ball out of his hands, force someone else to beat us. So I think we did a really good job in that period and it was definitely something we can learn from going forward.”

Wendell Carter Jr. called Kawhi Leonard “the best player in the league”

“Kawhi, especially lately, is probably the best player in this league. He finds his spots when he wants to… He never feels rushed or rushed.” pic.twitter.com/cpxRg2ggPM

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 23 February 2026

Leonard consistently controlled the pace, scoring from his favorite midrange spot and attacking mismatches without rushing. Despite Orlando’s late-game adjustments, the two-time Finals MVP repeatedly created separation and forced defensive turnovers.

Clippers fall short despite Kawhi Leonard’s 37-point performance vs. Magic

As Carter said, the Magic changed their tactics at the last minute and tried to take the ball out of Leonard’s hands. On the Clippers’ final possession, Leonard completed a pass to Benedict Mathurin for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the rim and went wide, setting up Los Angeles’ second consecutive loss and leaving the Clippers down 27–30.

Mathurin contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench. He shot 7 of 16 from the field, 1 of 5 from beyond the arc and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line in 30 minutes.

For Leonard, the performance continued what has been one of the most productive scoring seasons of his career. In his sixth season with the Los Angeles Clippers, the 34-year-old has averaged 28 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals per game in 44 appearances. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and a career-high 90.5% from the free-throw line, while logging 32.8 minutes per contest.

Orlando improved to 30–26 with the narrow win, concluding the second night of a back-to-back on a four-game Western Conference road trip. Carter finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes, helping solidify the interior while the Magic weathered Leonard’s scoring bursts.

The Clippers will try to bounce back on Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-25) at 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video as part of a three-game homestand.

The Orlando Magic continue their road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) on Tuesday at 7:30 pm PT, keeping the momentum going after enduring a 37-point outing from Leonard.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers suffered their second consecutive loss with a close home loss to the Orlando Magic. It was a tightly contested game throughout, but ultimately, the Clippers fell when Benedict Mathurin’s last-second shot to win the game hit the back of the iron and fell out.

After the game, Kawhi Leonard, who passed out to Mathurin for an open look, had a supportive message for the Clippers’ recent trade acquisition from the Indiana Pacers.

According to Joe Lynn of Sports Illustrated on Twitter, “Ben got wide open. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it. But that’s basketball. Things happen. We took a good look and he’ll be ready next time.”

Mathurin also got 100% real insight into the missed shots, as well as what it means to have someone like Leonard in his corner.

“It was great to have that experience. Obviously I wish I had made that shot, but there’s nothing I can do except work on it more… It means a lot. In my opinion, [Kawhi] He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. So for them to come out to show love and support and show that there’s a lot more ahead of me – for a guy who’s made a lot of shots, it was great to see,” he said.

The Clippers have now lost two straight games following their recent win over the Denver Nuggets, but they are still comfortably in postseason position in the Western Conference, sitting five games above the Memphis Grizzlies for the final play-in spot.

Mathurin was acquired from the Pacers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac as part of the Clippers’ trade deadline fire sale, in which they sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.

The Clippers next play on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has had his minutes restricted recently due to an ankle injury. Leonard initially fouled out of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers with more than five minutes remaining on the clock, but has since produced 37 points and eight rebounds in a loss against the Orlando Magic.

However, as it appears, Leonard has not fully recovered from the ankle problem and recently revealed that it was a “long injury” according to a post on the Ax by Sports Illustrated’s Farbod Esnashari.

Kawhi Leonard says his ankle pain has persisted for a long time. The medical team asked him against the Lakers to see if it was getting loose, and he went to the back but it wasn’t getting loose.

Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially mess up his availability… pic.twitter.com/gwOaImqClr

– Farbod Esnashari (@Farbod_E) 23 February 2026

The journalist revealed, “Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially ruin his availability against the Magic by forcing him to play against the Lakers.”

As far as the Clippers’ ceiling is concerned, Leonard remains extremely important. Through 43 games, the All-Star forward is averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 38% from three.

Of course, Leonard also remains one of the best, if not the best two-way stars in the league, and his importance has only increased following James Harden’s exit. The Clippers are somewhat removed from playoff relevance and currently sit below the .500 mark despite an uptick in form.

They currently sit 10th in the West with a 27-30 record and are largely dependent on Kawhi’s health if they get to the postseason. However, fans will be pleased to see how he has continued to perform at a high level despite the ankle problem.

Leonard played a vital role against the Lakers and kept his team in the game till the end. The Clippers could have easily won the game if he hadn’t been forced to do so, and his 37-point performance against the Magic despite the injury shows what he brings to the table.

For now, fans will hope that he recovers soon.

The Los Angeles Lakers last faced the LA Clippers in the 2025–26 regular season, and as those matchups usually are, it also lost. And while LeBron James was there to close out the game, Kawhi Leonard was forced to leave late with an ankle injury.

James finished the night with 13 points, three rebounds and 11 assists on 5-of-13 shooting for the Lakers, who defeated the Clippers 125–122. Kawhi Leonard produced 31 points, four rebounds and five assists on 11-of-19 shooting in 31 minutes of play before departing with 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about Kawhi Leonard and his resiliency to come back from injury and perform at an All-Star level.

“Kawhi is amazing, man,” James said. “He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. And I couldn’t care less about injuries. Those things, you can’t control. You can only control the guys, and the things he’s controlling is how he comes back and how much perseverance he has every time.”

In 42 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the free throw line.

His strong play throughout the season, but especially since mid-December, has been a big reason why the Clippers have been able to climb out of the 6-21 hole they started the season with.

“He’s a – that guy is amazing,” LeBron James continued. “I swear. I have nothing but good things to say about Kawhi and the kind of basketball he’s been playing the last few months. I mean, he’s been the same for a season. I’m not surprised by this. On another note, I was disappointed on the 2024 Olympic team when he wasn’t able to go with us. I was hoping to make the team with the ‘Whee’ as well. I was a little disappointed about that when he had to deal with another injury. Spent some time with him, but listen, he’s great. He had 31 points in 12 minutes. Obviously, I could talk about him all night.”

I heard LeBron James speak incredibly highly of Kawhi Leonard when I asked him about the resiliency he saw in him:

“Kawhi is amazing, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. I couldn’t care less about injuries… That guy is amazing. I swear I don’t have anything… pic.twitter.com/GipDxoJRfX

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Kawhi Leonard has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, from a torn ACL to a torn meniscus, not to mention quad and knee inflammation difficulties, in recent years.

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have not played 40 games against each other – 28 in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs. Leonard has won 15 of those 28 regular season games and seven of those 12 playoff games.

James and his Miami Heat won the 2013 NBA Championship against Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard and his Spurs defeated James and his Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.

The hits keep coming for the Los Angeles Clippers; Still without Darius Garland, the key player they got in exchange for James Harden, they lost John Collins to a serious head injury in Friday night’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.

To make matters worse, the Clippers will now be without Kawhi Leonard for the final few minutes of a close game against the Purple and Gold, as Tomer Azharli beat a ClutchPoints reporter.

Leonard was experiencing pain in his left ankle, and it looked as if he had dislocated it on the first play of the fourth when he attempted to post up and the ball slipped out of his grasp. The Clippers star was treading cautiously, and now, the team is opting to play it safe, refusing to risk any more losses to their best player.

Leonard scored 31 points on 11-19 shooting from the field, with four rebounds and five assists, before being forced to leave the game due to an ankle injury.

Things go from bad to worse for the plucky Clippers

To say that this season has not gone according to plan by any means for the Clippers would be a huge understatement. Leonard’s alleged involvement in a cap rigging business tied to a bankrupt company called Aspiration got this season off to a bad start for the Clippers, and now, LA is going to be without two key players at such a crucial point in the season.

The Clippers were one win away from reaching the .500 mark, which is a borderline miracle considering their 6-21 start to the season, but their loss to the Lakers has delayed their spectacular climb for the time being. If Leonard, Collins and Garland miss even more time, the onus will be on Benedict Mathurin to lead the team in scoring.

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers got a big win against one of the NBA’s best teams on Thursday night thanks to the contributions of freshman shooting guard Benedict Mathurin.

The fourth-year guard was traded to the Clippers on the day of the NBA trade deadline in a package that brought Isaiah Jackson and some draft picks to Los Angeles in exchange for All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac.

In his third game with the team since the acquisition – and his first game inside the Intuit Dome as a Clipper – Mathurin led the Clippers’ comeback win.

Benedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his first game at home, leading the Clippers to a 115–114 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The guard shot 12 of 22 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line in the win, scored 11 points off the bench in the first quarter and poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.

“He’s doing it,” Kawhi Leonard said of his new teammate. “It’s great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the NBA Finals [against the Oklahoma City Thunder]. “He was doing that all year with the Pacers, in the finals last year, so it’s great to have him.”

Kawhi Leonard on Benedict Mathurin’s 38-point night vs. Nuggets:

“He’s doing that. It’s great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the finals. He was doing that with the Pacers in the finals last year, so it’s great to have him.” pic.twitter.com/rDreMcknPn

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 February 2026

Mathurin had some big performances for the Indiana Pacers last season, including a 27-point performance in Game 3, helping his team take a 2–1 series lead, and a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 7, after Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles tendon.

“He’s been aggressive since he’s been playing with us, but it was great,” Leonard said. “Like you said, he scored 11 in the first, and he continued it from there. He came out in transition, made some layups, hit some big three-point shots. Guarded very well, so it’s been a great pickup.”

Benedict Mathurin has increased his scoring, rebounding and assists for three consecutive seasons, but now he has a chance to develop a consistency that was not available to him at Indiana under head coach Rick Carlisle.

“It’s going to be amazing [playing under head coach Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after last night’s win. “He might end up being my best friend.” He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me how I am, and I feel like he really knows my game. He knows exactly what I can do. So, I’m glad to have him as our coach and I think with everyone together we can do great things.”

Thursday night was also the second consecutive game in which Mathurin reached double-digit free throw attempts, displaying the ability to not only score at a high level, but also pressure the defense and get to the free throw line, where he shot 83.6 percent for his career.

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night thanks to a herculean effort from freshman guard Benedict Mathurin. But with the Clippers also playing the second night of a back-to-back set on Friday night, is Kawhi Leonard playing against the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Clippers currently have a record of 27–28, and have won 21 of their last 28 games after starting the season with a mediocre 6–21 record. The climb back up the standings and into the playoff race has been led by star Kawhi Leonard. Given his injury history and the upcoming back-to-back set, everyone wants to know if Leonard will play against the Lakers.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Lakers

Kawhi Leonard has played in 42 of the Clippers’ 55 games so far this season. He missed 10 games in November 2025 due to an ankle sprain suffered against the Miami Heat and another three games in January 2026 due to swelling in his knee due to a hard injury suffered against the Detroit Pistons a week earlier.

He played in the Clippers’ first game after the 2026 NBA All-Star break against the Nuggets, but battled an illness as he scored 23 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field. He received a huge boost from new teammate Benedict Mathurin, who scored a career-high 38 points on 12 of 22 shooting in the win.

Entering Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the Clippers’ injury report and is expected to play. However, it is worth noting that head coach Tyronn Lue has hinted at a minutes restriction on Leonard and that the team will likely limit his minutes as the season progresses.

“He’s on his minutes [restriction],” head coach Tyronn Lue admitted after Wednesday’s practice inside the Intuit Dome. “He’s on his schedule so we can’t overdo it. Like I said, we’re smart about it. We know we can’t just drop him to the ground. As much as he wants to play more and do more, we just know that with that load, we can’t keep it going night and day. So there will be some nights where it’s a little higher than others, but for the most part we want to make sure we’re safe with him.

Kawhi Leonard has played 41 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the three-throw line. His 27.8 points per night are a personal career high for the Clippers star, who has been tasked with carrying the scoring load during all the trades and injuries he has had to deal with.

The fourth and final matchup between the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM PST on ESPN.

The LA Clippers picked up a win against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night thanks to big scoring from Benedict Mathurin and Kawhi Leonard. However, he also got assistance from Jamal Murray.

Down by three points, the Nuggets first-time NBA All-Star guard was fouled on a three-point shot attempt with 0.9 remaining on the game clock and no timeouts remaining for either team. Murray, historically a clutch free throw shooter, stepped to the free throw line in front of the Clippers’ wall with a chance to tie the game and possibly send it to overtime.

Jamal Murray missed the first free throw, hit the back of the rim on the second free throw, and then had to wait about 30 seconds due to a substitution before taking his third and final free throw to tie. That shot veered off the right side of the rim and rolled right to left, effectively giving the Clippers the win.

Jamal Murray vs. The Wall… missed the last of 3 free throws to tie and the Clippers won. pic.twitter.com/nFuWFgi1Gx

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 February 2026

“What was going through my mind?” When Kawhi Leonard was asked this question after the game, he repeated it. “Uh, I was just hoping he’d miss one, seriously, sh-t,” Kawhi Leonard said. “I mean, we were up by three, he dropped the first two, so really expected he would miss.”

Kawhi Leonard explains what was going through his mind during Jamal Murray’s game-tying free throws:

“I was just hoping he’d miss one, really, bullshit. I mean, we were up by three, he dropped the first two, so I was really hoping he’d miss.” https://t.co/BYVzOwVuLO pic.twitter.com/0oG8ybH6oS

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 February 2026

Shooting 88.7 percent on the season, Jamal Murray has missed 11 free throws in clutch situations (defined as a five-point game in the final five minutes) this season. Murray is just 11-of-18 from the free throw line in the final minutes of games with a margin of three or fewer points this season.

Kawhi Leonard finished Thursday night’s game with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding four rebounds and three assists. The Clippers forward was clearly battling some type of cold or illness after the game, which is why Benedict Mathurin’s big performance was much needed.

In his third game with the LA Clippers, Mathurin scored 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line. The 38-point performance is the most by a Clippers player in his home debut as well as the highest individual career performance for the fourth-year guard out of Arizona.

Speculation regarding Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers is beginning to resonate in familiar territory as the franchise approaches a pivotal offseason.

In the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel drew a comparison between Leonard’s current situation and the circumstances that led to him being traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in 2018.

Siegel said, “I think if he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided. He’ll be in the last year of his deal.” “I believe it’s worth $50.3 million dollars and no matter how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. He’s in the final year of his contract. He can still be a big part of a championship team.”

The 34-year-old Leonard has averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 41 games this season. He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three-point range and a career-high 91.2 percent from the free-throw line in 32.8 minutes per contest.

The Clippers were active at the trade deadline as they recalibrated their roster around Leonard. Los Angeles traded Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection.

. @TomerAzarly And @BrettSiegelNBA Live to talk NBA All-Stars, tanking problems + some early NBA offseason intel! https://t.co/duIKN4TFxL

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 19 February 2026

Clippers reshape roster at deadline as Kawhi Leonard’s offseason future is in jeopardy

In a separate move earlier in the trade cycle, the Clippers dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland, signaling a broader shift toward reshaping their core while maintaining offensive firepower.

Siegel said that from a front office perspective, exploring a Leonard trade this summer could more closely align with the Clippers’ long-term vision.

“From a front office standpoint and if you’re looking at it through the lens of the Clippers’ future, it probably makes more sense to trade him in the offseason,” Siegel said.

Los Angeles entered Thursday at 26-28, tied for 10th in the Western Conference after bouncing back from a 6-21 start. The Clippers return to action following All-Star festivities when they host the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 pm PT.

With Leonard potentially entering the final year of his deal this summer, league observers will be monitoring whether the Clippers follow a similar path to the Spurs’ 2018 decision — a move that ultimately reshaped the championship landscape.

Amid trade talks across the league, the Milwaukee Bucks, with All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in mind, have reportedly inquired about trading with the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard. In the final hours before the trade deadline, the Bucks were a last-minute contender for Leonard. The Clippers ultimately retained Kawhi for the remainder of the season, but his future beyond 2025–26 remains uncertain.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, a Clippers offseason trade for Leonard could still be on the horizon.

“There were two teams in particular that were pursuing Giannis that called the Clippers about Kawhi Leonard and checked on his availability,” Siegel said. “If he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided, he’s going to be entering the last year of his deal, I believe it’s something like $50.3 million.

“Regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. This is the last year of his contract. He can still be a big part on a championship team, even if years later. We saw what Kawhi Leonard can do.”

No one expected James Harden’s trade request in the midst of the team’s most successful regular season run. Then, the Clippers’ trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac prompted other teams to call about Leonard.

Could Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard return to Raptors?

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard was the subject of trade rumors before the deadline, and is expected to be the case once again during the offseason, as noted by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

Siegel said, “It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard, without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship.”

“Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, the Raptors’ return to competing for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.”

Perhaps trade talks will resume in the offseason between the Raptors, who were reportedly interested in Ivica Zubac over the summer, or perhaps there will be a call from the Bucks.

The aspiration scandal has engulfed the Los Angeles Clippers following Pablo Torre’s initial reporting on his podcast last fall. on his podcast Pablo Torre found outTorre has made extensive reporting alleging that Kawhi Leonard has signed a secret $28 million endorsement deal with eco-friendly tech company, Aspiration.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer served as a major investor in the company, paying Leonard $7 million per year to become the company’s brand ambassador for four years. However, as Torre pointed out in his reporting, there is no evidence of Leonard serving as an ambassador for the brand, leading to speculation that the deal with the Aspirations was a way for the Clippers to circumvent the cap and give Kawhi additional incentive to play with the Clippers.

According to a report from The Athletic, Torre’s reporting sparked an investigation by the NBA, and many in NBA circles believe the Clippers are destined to receive harsh punishment for what happened.

The report stated, “In the weeks before Ballmer’s big party, there was a notable increase in league-wide speculation that the NBA’s hammer was likely to fall on the Clippers. This was a marked change from earlier in the season, when many believed the Leonard/Aspiration scandal would come and go without any concrete punishment.”

Adam Silver spoke about the incident and the investigation during a media availability over All-Star weekend. All-Star weekend was held at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, in Los Angeles.

He said, “I have not yet reached any decisions on the Clippers matter. As you know, the league office is not directly running the investigation. It is being overseen by Wachtel, a law firm in New York. From everything I’ve been told, the Clippers have been completely cooperative. But as I said, I’m not involved day-to-day in the investigation.”

He then continued to outline the complexity of the investigation, according to comments secured by The Athletic.

“I think, as I’ve said before, it’s extremely complicated. You have a company in bankruptcy (Aspiration, which gave Leonard a no-show endorsement deal that was allegedly facilitated by the Clippers). You have thousands of documents, multiple witnesses that need to be interviewed. I would say, if anyone is wondering, the fact that the All-Star is here this weekend has no bearing on the timeline of the investigation. “It’s our charge to the Wachtel Law Firm (to) do the work and then come back and make recommendations to the league office, and that’s where things stand now.”

Despite the investigation and early season troubles, in which the team unceremoniously released Chris Paul, the Clippers have been playing great over the past few months. They sit at 26–28 and have struggled to get back into the playoff picture as a play-in team; They are just one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers, who are currently ninth in the standings.

Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals on 49.1% shooting and 91% from the free-throw line per game. So far, he has played 41 games this season – four games more than the 37 games he played in the 2024-2025 season. But despite their exceptional play and increased year-to-year numbers, the Aspiration scandal still remains a major topic around the team, and it could impact the winning streak Los Angeles is starting to have.

The Clippers are set to host the Nuggets tonight at 10:30 PM Eastern.

目前在西部联盟排名第十的洛杉矶快船队球星科怀·伦纳德最近被发现与老板史蒂夫·鲍尔默、WWE 首席执行官尼克·汗和世界重量级冠军CM·朋克在一起。

“第二城圣人”于 2023 年重返 WWE，此后一直火爆。朋克回归后赢得了两次世界冠军，现在可以说是晋级的代表人物之一。朋克计划在芝加哥密室铁笼淘汰赛中对阵芬·巴洛尔 (Finn Bálor) 卫冕世界冠军，同时还计划在摔跤狂热 42 比赛中与罗曼·雷恩斯 (Roman Reigns) 进行世界冠军争夺战。

在预定比赛前几周，朋克被发现可能会与伦纳德、鲍尔默和 WWE 首席执行官汗进行会面。 HoopJab 的 YouTube 上发布的一段视频显示，朋克和汗在洛杉矶快船队的训练场。

视频开始时伦纳德四处走动，而朋克和可汗稍后与鲍尔默一起出现在视频中。视频中，朋克获得了世界重量级冠军，鲍尔默也获得了洛杉矶快船队 WWE Legacy 冠军头衔。截至撰写本文时，双方均未确认会议内容。

CM Punk 给出诚实的 WWE 退休计划

47 岁的 CM Punk 可以说已经接近职业生涯的黄昏。上个月，在接受 Cinema Blend 采访时，朋克公开了他的退休计划。 “当我 15 岁时，如果你问我 40 岁时是否会摔跤，我会告诉你‘不，那太疯狂了。40 岁已经太老了。’我今年47岁了，我还没有感觉自己老了。特里·芬克摔跤了很长时间，”朋克说。

“里克·弗莱尔摔跤了很长时间，”朋克补充道。 “我的意思是，有些摔角手70多岁了还在做这种事。我估计大概到了50岁的时候我应该优雅地退出。敲木头，如果没有其他可怕的事情发生的话。”

在过去的几个月里，摔跤迷们注意到约翰·塞纳、AJ·斯泰尔斯和田桥宏等几位传奇人物退役了。

Currently ranked 10th in the Western Conference League, Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was recently seen with boss Steve Ballmer, WWE CEO Nick Khan and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.

“The Second City Saint” returned to WWE in 2023 and has been on a roll ever since. Having won two world titles upon his return, Punk now presumably serves as one of the faces of the promotion. Scheduled to defend his World Title against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in Chicago, Punk is also scheduled to be involved in a World Title match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.

A few weeks before his scheduled matches, Punk was seen having a possible meeting with Leonard, Ballmer and WWE CEO Khan. A video posted on HoopJab’s YouTube shows Punk and Khan at the Clippers practice facility in Los Angeles.

The video begins with Leonard walking away, while Punk and Khan appear in the video with Ballmer shortly after. The video shows Punk carrying his World Heavyweight Championship, Ballmer is also seen with the LA Clippers WWE Legacy Title. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation from either side as to what the meeting was about.

CM Punk gives honest WWE retirement plans

47-year-old CM Punk is definitely in the final stages of his career. Last month, during an interview with Cinema Blend, Punk opened up about his retirement plans. “When I was 15, if you asked me if I’d be wrestling at 40, I would tell you ‘No, that’s crazy. 40 is too old.’ I am 47 years old and I don’t feel old yet. Terry Funk wrestled a long time,” Punk said.

“Ric Flair wrestled a long time,” Punk said. “I mean, there are luchadors who are in their 70s who are still doing it. I guess maybe the big 50 is when I should bow out gracefully. Knock on wood, if nothing else terrible happens.”

Over the past few months, wrestling fans have seen many legends like John Cena, AJ Styles, and Hiroshi Tanahashi retire.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a 6-foot-11, 243-pound tackle in Giannis Antetokounmpo that they desperately need to address over the next few months.

In the annals of basketball history, “The Greek Freak” will undoubtedly go down as one of the best players to ever do so, but he has become increasingly dissatisfied with the team built around him, to the extent that many feel a trade this summer is inevitable after being held up at the trade deadline.

And yet, in the opinion of Danny Green on ESPN’s NBA Today, the Bucks may be able to keep their former MVP happily employed for years to come if they are willing to add major talent around him, with the situation in Los Angeles presenting a golden opportunity to add another future Hall of Famer to the Eastern Conference.

“What he’s saying is very thoughtful. He knows what he’s saying, but it’s just like Bobby said, Mr. Marks, it’s a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month deal with him in Milwaukee, and they don’t want to do business with him,” Green explained. “I wouldn’t want to trade him either, so if you want to keep him, you’re going to have to go out on the market and find someone who can keep him there. If I’m the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m monitoring what the Clippers are doing with the Kawhi situation. If you can get a player like Kawhi or something like him, he can keep Giannis in the house, and then also build around that group to make it a contender in the East.”

After turning an early season disaster into one of the better midseason comeback stories in recent memory, the Clippers suddenly changed course and sold at the trade deadline, moving on from players like Ivica Zubac and James Harden for younger players with less certain futures. If Leonard becomes available in some package or another this summer, who knows? Perhaps bringing him to Milwaukee could be enough to convince Antetokounmpo that he can still win with the team that drafted him rather than looking for greener pastures elsewhere.

“[Giannis] He’s very calculating in what he’s saying. …If you can get a player like Kawhi or a player like him, he can keep Giannis at home.”

—@DGreen_14 How can the Bucks keep Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀 pic.twitter.com/qTTMZkN66q

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 16 February 2026

Despite Anthony Edwards winning MVP, Kawhi Leonard stole the spotlight at the NBA All-Star Game. Leonard later earned much praise. According to First Things First, from former Boston Celtics player Antoine Walker.

“I thought Kawhi Leonard was awesome. To be a hometown guy, in front of your fans… we need to make this game very competitive again.”

“I thought Kawhi Leonard was awesome. To be a hometown guy, in front of your fans… we need to make this game very competitive again.”

Antoine Walker was a big fan of the way Kawhi played in the All-Star Game 🔥

(via @FTFonFS1)

pic.twitter.com/Dl7uu6rOiF

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

The NBA All-Star Game format consisted of four games: World vs. Stars, Stars vs. Stripes, and World vs. Stripes. Notably, during the World vs. Stripes game, Leonard scored 31 points and shot 11 of 13 from the field, leading the Stripes to a 48–45 win.

Based on his All-Star Game performances, Leonard is now a seven-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019–2021, 2024, 2026). Notably, he was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2020. This year, Leonard is averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

While Leonard has performed well individually, the Clippers are currently 26-28 and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Additionally, Leonard has been dealing with injuries and inflammation recently in his left knee.

Adding to the challenges this season, Leonard’s accomplishments attracted media attention amid the NBA’s scrutiny bypassing the salary cap With the help of defunct company Aspiration.

Leonard has been playing with the Clippers since 2019, the same year he won the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors. In the 2021 playoffs, he tore his ACL, causing him to miss the 2022 season. The following year, additional knee problems sidelined him.

Walker played 13 NBA seasons (1996 to 2008), was a three-time All-Star with the Celtics, and won the 2006 NBA Championship with the Heat.

To say that Kawhi Leonard had a great performance during All-Star weekend would be an understatement. The Los Angeles Clippers key player finished with 31 points and the game-winning three-pointer, and seemed extremely satisfied with the new format after the proceedings.

According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, when asked if he liked the new format, he said, “Whatever you guys want. Whatever you know grabs consumer attention, I’m all for it.”

“Whatever you guys want. Man, same question. Whatever grabs the consumer’s attention, I’m all for it.”

Kawhi Leonard explained how entertaining the new All-Star Game format was 😅

(via @joeylinn_)pic.twitter.com/kwKecGThs6

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 16 February 2026

Not many people can question his performance. When fit and active, Leonard remains one of the best players in the league and arguably the best two-way player in the NBA.

And the same has been seen with the Clippers’ season so far. After a rough start for the Clippers, Leonard’s return to form has fueled a dramatic turnaround that has kept the team in the playoff conversation.

“When I play basketball I feel like I’m one of the best players,” he said, though he questioned the basis of the rankings.

“It’s for you guys. For me, I think it’s a rotation every day, every week. Because you guys are coming in scoring 50, playing great defensive games. And then the next night, someone else is going to shine. So, for me, the rankings are just based on maintaining the hype around the game,” Leonard said, clearly determined to continue his great form.

The 34-year-old is currently averaging 27.9 points, 2.1 steals (both career-highs), 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and will be well aware that the Clippers count on him not only for contention, but also for postseason qualification. The Clippers currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record and need to build on their recent performance to overtake teams.

自聖誕節之前以來，可以說 NBA 中沒有人比洛杉磯快艇隊球星科懷·倫納德打得更好。 12 月 20 日球隊擊敗洛杉磯湖人隊後，他的態度發生了轉變。從那以後，快艇隊從6勝21負的開局中取得了20勝7負的成績，而倫納德一直在打MVP級別的比賽，場均30分、6.9個籃板、4.0次助攻和2.2次搶斷，投籃命中率為49/40/89。

這就是為什麼倫納德沒有立即進入全明星賽名單是相當令人困惑的，NBA各地的主教練都不認為這位快艇球星值得一席之地。直到一系列的傷病為專員亞當·西爾弗（Adam Silver）開闢了一個位置，才將他納入美國條紋隊陣容。倫納德在 Intuit Dome 的主場球迷面前進行了一場表演， 彈出 上場僅 10 分鐘，13 投 11 中拿下 31 分，幫助球隊以 48-45 擊敗世界隊。

「對我來說，這就像輪換。每天，每週。你會得到50分，防守出色的球員。而第二天晚上，有人打得不好，其他人就會表現出色。對我來說，排名只是基於對比賽的炒作，」倫納德說。

“當我打籃球時，我覺得自己是最擅長的人之一。”

「當我打籃球時，我感覺自己是最擅長的人之一。」👀

科懷·倫納德 (Kawhi Leonard) 講述 NBA 頂級球員如何日新月異。 pic.twitter.com/wrNR0k3LzD

— NBA (@NBA) 2026 年 2 月 16 日

科懷·倫納德確實是快艇隊業內最好的球員之一

撇開所謂的規避薪資上限不談，倫納德是一位出色的雙向球員，他正在進入快艇隊的第二個巔峰期。從2021年到2024年，倫納德的處境非常艱難，因為他面臨無數的膝蓋問題，這使他無法為球隊帶來持續的影響，尤其是在季後賽中。

但倫納德在某種程度上比 2019 年以來的任何時候都更健康，而快艇隊正在成為西部低種子球隊的威脅，尤其是當他們讓達柳斯·加蘭健康回歸後。

Kawhi Leonard turned the NBA All-Star Game into a one-man show. Fittingly, the Los Angeles Clippers star put on a show at his home arena.

Leonard exploded by scoring 23 points – including 15 straight in Game 3 of the USA vs. the World.

15 straight points. For 23 games.

Kawhi Leonard is going 😮

USA Stripes have taken a late lead… Watch here: https://t.co/uaP8VtXA3D https://t.co/yfD9LBTDHq pic.twitter.com/HAscoYGr39

– NBA (@NBA) 16 February 2026

Leonard had immediate reactions from on the field to the Internet.

“This is their field,” NBC Sports analyst and former All-Star Vince Carter said during the intermission period.

But the Internet was beside itself watching Leonard go on the scoring end.

Notable reactions to Kawhi Leonard’s breakout NBA All-Star performance

Fans quickly reacted to Leonard’s potentially Most Valuable Player performance — including bringing back another of his famous quotes.

Kawhi ends World Team campaign pic.twitter.com/iOu7lw8Iw3

– Olympic Zoom (@olympic_zoom) 16 February 2026

The Athletic responded by mentioning how previous All-Stars were not initially voted on by the coaches.

His team, the Clippers, also showered him with a lot of love – including writing his name in all caps.

Kawhi Anthony Leonard‼️ pic.twitter.com/n6U55CmQxG

– LA Clippers (@LAClippers) 16 February 2026

Leonard dropped 31 points through the new format – a supernatural feat in just 12 minutes. Sirius XM radio personality Rob Perez called it “one of the best All-Star performances you’ll see in a game where the players are really trying”.

Even Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined in the internet’s praise.

The NBA All Star is back. kawi vs wembi
🔥🔥🔥

– Mark Cuban (@mcuban) 16 February 2026

Leonard told NBA insider Chris Haynes that he expects this year’s celebration to be more competitive.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard told Haynes. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”

It’s safe to say that he took the game seriously.

Kawhi Leonard has a lot going on in his life right now, but he is still expected to lead the Los Angeles Clippers (26-28) through this period of transition. James Harden and Ivica Zubac were moved at the trade deadline, leading the franchise into a new era. However, the two-time NBA Finals MVP is still the center of this team. He has been tasked with anchoring the Clipse, as Chris Paul did several years ago.

Although the two future Hall of Famers haven’t shared a locker room for long, they both understand what it’s like to be the top guy on the Los Angeles Lakers’ “little brother.” Bringing pride and prestige to a historically troubled franchise may be a difficult task. The Clippers are still looking for their first Finals appearance, but both of these guys have done their best to keep the team respectable. There is a certain bond that is created by sharing equal responsibilities.

Amid significant roster changes, Leonard is trying to be the stabilizing force that Paul was in a previous era of Clippers basketball. Now he has even more appreciation for the newly retired point guard. The three-time All-NBA first-team selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year spoke about the impact Paul had on him and the entire game.

“He’s always been great,” Leonard told veteran NBA insider Chris Haynes before All-Star Weekend. “A leader, a guy who also cares about his family, gives you advice on and off the field. He used to be one of my favorite players, I watched him a lot growing up. Observed his leadership and how dedicated he was to trying to win basketball games, his handle, his IQ. So, hats off to him. He did that for many years, especially at a guard position – you don’t see that too much.

“I think you’ll see the things he’s done. Congratulations to him on his career.”

Met up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday. Many topics were discussed, including whether people would work hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU

– Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 14 February 2026

Chris Paul didn’t get the farewell Clippers fans wanted

Paul planned to end his illustrious NBA run with a second stint in L.A., but it became clear early in the 2025-26 campaign that he wasn’t fitting in with this iteration of the Clippers. The two sides parted ways in December, and then the organization began an official split when it traded the four-time All-NBA first-teamer to the Toronto Raptors last week. He was waived on Friday and immediately announced his retirement, closing the book on a 21-year NBA career.

Although Paul’s final chapter was very frustrating and full of tension, Leonard is happy to call him a teammate, even if briefly. The 34-year-old forward Chris Paul will try to finish what he started in Los Angeles and lead the Clippers back into title contention.

Despite being ranked 10th in the West, LA has performed at a high level over the past two months. Fans hope that No. 2 can keep the team relevant, just as No. 3 did before him.

Ahead of LA Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard’s seventh All-Star Game appearance, he expects a competitive schedule despite not fully understanding the new format. Leonard led the Clippers’ hard-fought 105-102 win against the Houston Rockets.

According to NBA on Prime Insider Chris Haynes, he said, Leonard is also expecting a competitive night.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”

The NBA’s new USA vs. World format will feature three teams – Team World, USA Stars and USA Stripes – each with eight players, competing in a round-robin tournament.

Leonard will play for Team USA Stripes alongside Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James and New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, as well as Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell. Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors and De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs are replacing injured All-Stars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and first-time All-Star Jamal Murray will play for Team World. Alperen Sengun of the Rockets, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks and Victor Vembanyama of the Spurs are also on the team, as well as first-time All-Star forwards Danny Avdija of the Portland Blazers and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards will join Team USA stars along with Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker, Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey and the Detroit Pistons’ All-Star duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. The Raptors’ Scottie Barnes is also on the team, along with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, who is making his first All-Star appearance.

Kawhi Leonard’s opinion on Clippers’ Darius Garland trade

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard discusses Darius Garland following the Clippers’ trade with the Cavs during All-Star weekend. While Garland recovers from a toe injury, Leonard can’t wait to join the team’s offense when healthy.

“I believe he was probably about 20 or 21 years old when I first came here,” Leonard said. “He was probably in his third year in the league, so he just kept working and over time he transitioned from being the guy that stayed in the fourth quarter and held down the fort for us in the paint. Also became very efficient in the post, creating mismatches or double teams on guys his size.

“His development has been great, he’s playing well, and he’ll still have a chance to win at Indiana when Tyrese comes back, and they get their whole group together. I told him, it’s not the worst, so just enjoy your kid, and he’ll get a chance to play for a championship.”

The Clippers have won three of their last four games before the All-Star break.