Kawhi Leonard, of the Los Angeles Clippers, scored 15 points during his highly anticipated return to the game after a prolonged absence since March 31st
LOS ANGELES — After a 22-day rehabilitation period for his surgically-repaired right knee, Kawhi Leonard made his return to the court. However, despite his efforts, the Clippers suffered a 96-93 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Leonard, who had been inactive since March 31, contributed 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Although he struggled to find his usual rhythm, shooting 7-of-17 and missing all five of his 3-point attempts, marking the most missed 3-pointers in his playoff career without a successful shot, the Clippers’ primary concern was Leonard’s positive report on his knee’s condition after playing for 35 minutes.
“Keep working on regaining rhythm and, of course, aim to win the basketball game,” Leonard commented on his return. “We became stagnant in the fourth quarter tonight. I want to establish a rhythm with the team and secure a victory.”
Despite displaying defensive intensity, with Leonard deflecting passes and a steal leading to a breakaway dunk in the third quarter, the Clippers struggled to convert crucial shots. They missed 22 of their 30 3-point attempts, with James Harden missing 8 out of his 10 shots.
Despite losing home-court advantage and tying 1-1 with the Mavericks in the best-of-7 series, the Clippers remain optimistic with their star player back in the lineup.
“Kawhi is one of the world’s best players,” Paul George remarked. “He will find his rhythm, and we will adjust accordingly. We are confident about it.”
Leonard had been sidelined for the final eight games of the regular season and Sunday’s Game 1 victory over Dallas due to inflammation in his right knee, which has undergone surgeries to repair his ACL and meniscus. Although he participated in practices, he mentioned that he couldn’t do much apart from running and shooting.
Finally, in the past couple of days, Leonard started to feel improvement.
“Just being able to consistently shoot on the floor for a few days and run in the past few weeks,” Leonard explained. “I haven’t been on the floor, so the last couple of days felt great, and I was able to play tonight.”
Last week, Lawrence Frank, the president of basketball operations, described Leonard’s inflammation as “unpredictable” and “stubborn.” Typically, Leonard and the team need to evaluate how his body responds and feels a day or two after playing. While Leonard acknowledged that he is unsure about his conditioning, he expressed his dedication to finding his rhythm for Game 3 in Dallas on Friday.
“This is my first game in over 20 days,” Leonard said. “We need improvement as a collective, and it starts with me. Even if my endurance is lacking, I must find a way.”
Kawhi Leonard Personal Life
Kawhi Leonard’s journey through the NBA is quite remarkable, isn’t it? From his college days with the San Diego State Aztecs to becoming a dominant force in the league, he’s left an indelible mark on basketball history. Winning NBA championships with both the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, and then signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, he’s been at the forefront of the league’s elite for years. His defensive prowess, coupled with his offensive skills, truly sets him apart as one of the greatest two-way players of all time. It’s impressive how he’s earned accolades like NBA Finals MVP multiple times and consistently made All-Star and All-NBA teams. His impact on the court is undeniable, and he’s rightfully earned his place among the legends of the game.
News Source:ESPN