Will Kawhi Leonard play against the Mavs in game 4?

Kawhi Leonard said that the inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee did not respond how he had hoped after Game 2, with his time in the following game cut short. After three matches, the Clippers trail the Mavs 2-1 (109-97, 93-96, 101-90) and the possibility of Leonard playing in Game 4 is looking slim.

The 32-year-old had been absent for a number of Games before returning in Game 2 and his fitness was put under the microscope after the release of the updated injury list ahead of Game 3. He did not look himself on his return at American Airlines Center and with less than 48 hours between the two, things are not promising.

Leonard said “yes” when asked if he could play in Game 4, adding “right now, I’ll see [how it feels] tomorrow. But I want to play.” However, he also admitted that after Game 3 his knee “just didn’t respond the way we wanted”.

What injury does Kawhi Leonard have?

Leonard has had a nightmare few years with his knee: he tore his ACL in the second round in 2021 before returning and tearing his meniscus in the first round last postseason.

“It was pretty good,” Leonard said before highlighting his commitment to the team. “First Game didn’t respond the way we wanted it to. And tonight it was either play limited minutes or not play. And I wanted to be on the floor to help the team, and that’s what the results are.”

“It’s frustrating that it happened to me this late in the season, but we’re going to keep going. We’re going to get it right.”

Kawhi Leonard managed 15 points on Tuesday and his reappearance on the court gave a huge plus to his side, something coach Paul George was keen to point out after the game: “Kawhi’s gonna find his rhythm, and we’re gonna find our rhythm around him. We lost, but it is great having No. 2 back with us.”

Leonard is listed as ‘questionable’ ahead of Game 4 on the official NBA injury report that all teams must submit, and he is down as having knee inflammation.

As for the Mavs, Olivier-Maxence Prosper is out with a left ankle sprain while Tim Hardaway Jr is also missing with a right ankle sprain. Daniel Gafford is down was recently down as questionable ahead of tip-off, with back spasms the reason given by the side.