LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard left with 4:34 remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday against the LA Lakers. The two-time NBA Finals MVP briefly talked to Clippers coach Ty Lue before exiting the contest early.
The ESPN announcer who called the game noted that Leonard wasn’t in pain or walked hobbled as he left the floor. Leonard’s sudden departure prompted suspicions from fans.
One fan said:
“Didn’t even look hurt, he just left.
Another fan added:
“Clippers really tanking.”
One more fan continued:
“He dead just walked off the court like nothing happened.”
Another fan wrote:
“If he was a horse, he would be sacrificed already man.”
One fan tweeted:
“Nah ni**a don’t run. You played the whole game. He not even hobbling.”
Leonard was the Clippers’ best player in the team’s 125-122 loss to the Lakers. Before the early exit, the All-Star forward tallied 31 points, behind 11 of 19 shooting, including 4 of 6 from 3-point distance. It was Leonard who kept the Clippers in the game when the Lakers had extended their lead to 16 points in the third quarter.
However, a left ankle soreness forced the Clippers to cut Kawhi Leonard’s night short. After the game, Ty Lue told reporters that the stiffness in Leonard’s troublesome ankle prompted them to send him to the locker room. The do-it-all forward had already missed 12 games this season due to a left ankle injury.
Still without Darius Garland, who the Clippers acquired in the James Harden trade, Ty Lue had limited go-to options late in the fourth quarter without Leonard. Bennedict Mathurin fouled out with a little less than two minutes remaining, removing another reliable scorer for Lue. In the end, the Clippers couldn’t complete their attempt to rally for a win.
Kawhi Leonard’s Injury Latest in Clippers’ Health Woes
Clippers forward John Collins could not finish the game against the Lakers. Collins landed hard on his face after bumping into Jaxson Hayes. The former tried to catch a lob from Mathurin before the latter interrupted the play. Collins briefly held the rim and fell on Hayes’ back as he landed. The interaction caused the Clippers forward to slide and fall.
Collins spent a few minutes on the floor before teammates and training staff helped him to the locker room.
Kawhi Leonard’s injury came next, leaving the Clippers without their best player and key forward to finish the game.
While Collins and Leonard have been added to the injury list, the team is still waiting for Darius Garland to play. Garland has not played since Jan. 15 due to a nagging toe injury.
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