PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers will effort to secure their season alive with out Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in Sport 5 in opposition to the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers dominated out either one of their franchise stars on Monday forward of Tuesday’s tournament at Phoenix. The Suns top the Clippers 3-1 and will clinch the Western Convention first-round line with yet another win.
Leonard has no longer performed since Sport 2 as a result of a proper knee sprain that he suffered in Sport 1. Leonard performed via it in Sport 2, however the shock worsened, and it is going to secure him out for a 3rd directly recreation.
Clippers teacher Ty Lue mentioned Leonard gained remedy and didn’t apply on Monday. Lue made it unclouded, for somebody who has criticized Leonard for load control or possibly doubts this flow shock, that his famous person ahead is injured.
“He’s definitely hurt,” Lue mentioned of Leonard, who averaged 34.5 issues, 6.5 rebounds and six.0 assists within the first two video games of the line. “Like this is not load management where he’s taking time off. He’s shown in his past that he’s played through injuries in the playoffs. If it’s something that he can’t play through, then it has to be pretty serious.
“We’re no longer speaking about he’s sitting out as a result of load control or he’s drained or not anything like that. It’s an untouched factor. What the outdoor is announcing, who cares.”
George has been out since March 21 with a right knee sprain. He has been working out on the court and could be seen going harder on his moves and drives than he did the week before when the media was allowed to watch practice on Monday. A potential return for George, though, had been considered unlikely since the start of the series.
With out Leonard and George, the Clippers will depend on Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell to shoulder the scoring load once more. Westbrook has scored 30 issues or extra within the age two losses for the Clippers.
Lue has attempted enjoying an ultra-small lineup of all guards from time to time in an struggle to effort to attain and secure date with the Suns’ famous person trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Lue mentioned he nonetheless has some unseen wrinkles left in his playbook because the Clippers face removing.
“It’s a tough situation to be in, with your two main guys out,” Lue mentioned. “But I love our guys in the locker room. I’d go to war with these guys any time. That’s the reason I have confidence, because of the guys we have in the locker room, and we are not going to give in. We just [got to] clean up a few things, like we’re right there.”
“We have no choice,” Lue mentioned when requested about emptying the tank in Sport 5. “It’s either win or go home. We’ve just got to bring everything. A lot of different things, a lot of different adjustments, just try to keep them off balance, and go from there.”
