The Clippers’ chances at making it to the Western Conference Finals suddenly feel bleak.
Kawhi Leonard is likely out for Game 5 of the Clippers-Jazz second round playoff series with a right knee injury he suffered late in Game 4, according to ESPN.
Sources told the site the Clippers forward could miss the remainder of the second-round playoff series, which is tied 2-2.
Leonard reportedly told his teammates late Tuesday that he’d be out for Game 5, even though he was not listed on the Clippers injury report Tuesday.
The 29-year-old injured his right knee on a drive toward the end of Los Angeles’ 118-104 Game 4 win, when he collided with Utah’s Joe Ingles. Leonard would stay in the game for a short time before he exited for good.
In 2017, he missed significant time with the Spurs when he suffered a quad tendon injury in his right knee.
In the Clippers-Jazz series, Leonard is averaging 27.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Clippers are already without big man Serge Ibaka, who underwent season-ending back surgery last week.
Game 5 is for Wednesday night in Utah at 10 p.m. Game 6 will be Friday, and if a Game 7 is needed, it will played on Sunday.
Leonard’s knee issue was the second shocking playoff news on Wednesday morning. Suns guard Chris Paul, whose team will face the winner of the Jazz-Clippers series, is out indefinitely after being placed in the NBA’s COVID protocols.