Kawhi Leonard ruled out with back spasms, leaves arena

THE ANGELS — Scissors Stars game Kawhi Leonard left Crypto.com Arena in the first half against the minnesota wolves Tuesday night due to back spasms, and his status is uncertain for the team’s upcoming back-to-back road games.

The Clippers said Leonard was suffering from chest spasms. According to a source, Leonard went home to rest instead of sitting uncomfortably in the sand.

Coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard has been dealing with the issue for a couple of days and the team didn’t know if its franchise star would be able to play against Minnesota. After Leonard left, the Clippers blew a 22-point lead and lost 118-100 to the wolves.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to go this morning,” Lue said after the game. “But he came to shootaround, got treatment, did what he had to do and tried to get on the court and played today. It just didn’t relax for him.”

When asked if Leonard will fly with the team on Wednesday for Thursday’s game at the The Chicago Bulls — followed by Friday’s tilt in the New Orleans Pelicans — Lue said he wasn’t sure.

“I hope so,” Lue said.

Leonard left Tuesday’s contest after playing 12 minutes and scoring six points. He was seen on camera cautiously leaving the arena before halftime.

This has been Leonard’s healthiest season as a Clipper; He has played in 58 of 64 games so far, his most since he joined the franchise in 2019.

But the Clippers are dealing with more than just Leonard’s injury. James Harden He is nursing a shoulder injury. He appeared on the injury report with a left shoulder strain before facing the visiting Bulls and milwaukee dollars Last weekend. Since she got dressed after her exchange from the Philadelphia 76ersHarden hasn’t missed a game this season.

“We’ll see tomorrow how he feels,” Harden said.

Leonard played Saturday during the Clippers’ 112-102 victory over Chicago. But he and his All-Star teammate paul george He did not participate in Sunday’s 124-117 loss to Milwaukee. Leonard was out with left groin soreness, while George sat out with left knee soreness.

Both returned to play on Tuesday. George finished with 22 points, but the Clippers suffered a complete collapse after Leonard’s departure.

They led Minnesota 57-35 with 5:13 left in the first half only to see the Wolves outscore them 79-37 to turn the game into a 114-94 rout at the 4:10 mark of the fourth. Minnesota won season series without injured All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.

“Just being mentally tough,” Lue said of what went wrong for the Clippers. “They’re a good team without KAT. They’re going to make runs, and we can’t put our heads down and feel sorry for ourselves… But just be mentally tougher when things aren’t going well. There’s a lot of things to do.” things we didn’t do very well.”

“They played harder than us, without a doubt,” the coach continued. “It certainly bothers me when it comes down to it. Just being tougher mentally when things get tough. You have to be tougher.

“We can talk about schemes, we can talk about a lot of other things, but we have to be tougher mentally and get better physically.”

Antonio Edwards scored 30 points for the Wolves (45-21), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 25.

Minnesota is half a game behind the Oklahoma City thunder and the Denver Nuggetswho are tied at the top of the Western Conference standings.

The Clippers (41-23) are fourth in the West, on a two-game losing streak and unsure if they will have Leonard for the next trip, all while Harden is also banged up.

“We have to pick up the pieces,” George said. “Let’s let Kawhi take the time he needs. We just need him healthy. But we’ll pick it up and move forward. We’re not the only team with a man down.”