Kawhi Leonard injury status up in the air ahead of NBA playoffs

Clippers versus Mavericks Part III is coming to television screens near you.

After the Kawhi Leonard-led Clippers squad got the better of Luka Doncic's Mavericks in the 2020 and 2021 NBA playoffs, the teams will renew their rivalry starting with Game 1 next weekend.

Although the Clippers start as favorites on paper, the momentum is clearly with the Mavericks, who have the third-best record in the league (18-8) since the All-Star break and have benefited enormously from the NBA trade-deadline acquisitions of two key starters — Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.

The Clippers, on the other hand, have gone 15-13 since the All-Star break and face difficult questions heading into the playoffs. Is Leonard even healthy? The All-Star forward has not suited up for a game since March 31 with knee soreness. 

Due to Leonard's injury history, there should be legitimate concern in the Clippers camp. After the team rested its starters in Friday's 110-109 defeat to the Jazz, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was asked if Leonard would be ready for Game 1 against the Mavericks. 

"That is what we want to see," Lue told reporters. "Hopefully he will be playing."

During the game, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank provided an update on Leonard's injury status.

"Kawhi is dealing with inflammation," Frank said on the Bally Sports broadcast. "It's no secret he's had a couple surgeries to that knee. It's not uncommon over the course of it where you deal with inflammation. The number one thing is, with inflammation, it limits your ability to make some natural basketball moves, so he's working his tail off, the staff is working their tail off to try and help with the inflammation."