Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Away From Team As Result Of LA Wildfires

Kawhi Leonard will be absent from the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup on Wednesday as the team travels to Denver to face the Nuggets, the team announced.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Leonard is away from the team to be with family in the Los Angeles area, who were forced to evacuate due to the ongoing wildfires in California.

This marks another setback in what has already been a challenging start to the 2024-25 season for the two-time NBA champion. Leonard made his long-awaited season debut just this past Saturday, after missing the first two months of the season while recovering from an offseason procedure on his right knee.

In his return, he looked solid, scoring 12 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, and posting a plus-22 in the Clippers’ win over Atlanta.

However, his performance in Monday’s game against Minnesota was a bit of a letdown. Leonard struggled with his shot, finishing with just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting, and his minus-17 rating contributed to the Clippers’ disappointing two-point loss to the Timberwolves.

As of now, it’s unclear whether Leonard’s absence will extend beyond Wednesday’s game or whether the ongoing wildfires could impact the Clippers’ schedule in the coming days.

The team is slated to return home for a three-game homestand, beginning with a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

For now, Leonard’s priority is understandably with his family, and the Clippers will continue to monitor his situation closely. Given his importance to the team, the franchise will certainly be hoping for a quick return once the situation stabilizes.

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