NBA Notes: Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Rockets

Clippers

Coach Tyronn Lue expressed his full support for Kawhi Leonard stepping away from the Clippers this week to be with family affected by the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Lue emphasized the importance of taking care of family, telling reporters, “You definitely have to take care of home. And so (Leonard) totally had my support, 100%. Going back, checking on his family and kids and making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”

Lue also mentioned that “a few people on the staff” were impacted by the fires and were absent from the Clippers’ game in Denver on Wednesday.

Leonard, who has missed a significant portion of the season due to an offseason knee procedure, is still working his way back into form.

In an interview with Law Murray of The Athletic, Leonard acknowledged that his first two games back have felt like his “preseason.”

“I’m happy the knee is responding well. That’s what I’m more focused on than anything,” Leonard said.

He added that he’s eager to return to his aggressive playing style once his conditioning improves.

“Once my lungs and my legs get there, start building up, I’ll start really assessing my play and seeing what I need to do better,” he said.

Grizzlies

Ja Morant is inching closer to a return for the Memphis Grizzlies after being upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s matchup against Houston, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Morant has been out since December 27 due to a shoulder injury, and Memphis has struggled in his absence, losing three of the five games he’s missed.

Rockets

Rookie Reed Sheppard, the third overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, showed why the Houston Rockets are so high on him during a dominant G League debut with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Sheppard exploded for 49 points, including eight 3-pointers, and added eight assists in his first game with the Vipers on Tuesday.

After struggling to crack Houston’s deep rotation, Sheppard’s standout performance in the G League has reaffirmed his potential as a scoring and shooting threat. It’s a reminder of the upside he brings to the Rockets, even if he’s not yet seeing significant minutes at the NBA level.