Clippers prepare for playoffs by resting starters in loss to Rockets

Broderick Turner April 14, 2024

Kawhi Leonard sat on the Clippers bench

Sundayyet once

again dressed in a sweatsuit, right next to Paul George, who was next to James Harden, the teams three stars not playing in the final regular-season game before Los Angeles heads to the playoffs.

But

The

big

mystery surrounds Leonard and his status for the Clippers first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks that will start

this next

weekend in Los Angeles. He didnt play against the Rockets on Sunday because of right knee inflammation. He has missed the last eight

straight

games with knee issues.

The Clippers made no assurances that Leonard will play

or not play

when the

postseason series

starts.

Hes not playing today, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before his teams 116-105 loss to the Houston Rockets in L.A.s last regular-season game at Crypto.com Arena before moving to Intuit Dome next season.

By the time the playoffs start for the Clippers either Saturday or Sunday, Leonard will not have played in a

n NBA

game in three weeks.

Leonard last played against Charlotte on March 31, a game in which

Leonard he had

37 minutes and had 23 points, five rebounds and four assists. He complained of knee soreness right after that game and hasnt played since.

So, Lue was asked, has Leonard been working out?

Yeah, hes been doing something, Lue said.

So, do you expect Leonard to play in the playoffs?

I didnt say anything, Lue said.

So, what are you telling the media?

I didnt tell you nothing, Lue said. Hes not playing tonight and well see.

So, is Leonard feeling fine?

Hes feels OK.

The Clippers will need a healthy Leonard to beat a Dallas team with perhaps the best backcourt in the NBA in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Last year in the playoffs, when the Clippers met

played

the Phoenix Suns, Leonard averaged 34.5 points per game, but he played in just two games, his time cut short because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Without Leonard, who has missed 14 games this season, against the Rockets, the Clippers pushed forward with the available players.

Terance Mann was the only regular starter in the lineup

to start

, and he was joined by Xavier Moon, Mason Plumlee, P.J. Tucker and Amir Coffey.

Lue was able to play his young players because the Clippers are the fourth seed in the Western Conference and will host the fifth-seeded Mavericks.

Its been good for us to be able to clinch the No.4 spot and know who were playing and we dont have to play these last two games and fight for our lives and stay out of the play-in or certain matchups to get to a certain position, Lue said. So, Im just glad that we were able to clinch as early as we did. Im just glad we were able to kind of get some rest knowing our history. Im happy about where were at.

Having clinched the fourth spot early and knowing that

their

opponent would be Dallas has turned into a positive for the Clippers.

It allowed the notorious workaholic Lue to begin

playoff

preparations early.

The Clippers won the season series against the Mavericks, 2-1, but the two teams havent met since Dallas traded for center Daniel Gafford and forward P.J. Washington.

Its a lot of preparation, Lue said. Probably too much time. A lot of overthinking. But it gives you a chance to kind of lock in to what theyre doing, how they try to attack teams and what you can take away. So, its good to have the time.

Time

that

Lue has spent looking at ways to deal with the always dangerous Doncic, which will be no easy task.

Doncic, a most valuable

player

candidate, led the NBA in scoring (33.9), was second in three-pointers made (4.1) and third in assists (9.8). He also averaged 9.2 rebounds

per game

.

Hes been great since Ive seen him play, Lue said. Hes been a tough matchup for us since hes been in the league. So, you just got to pick your poison, I think you got to give him different coverages. You cant let him get comfortable. But hes seen everything. Hes seen double teams, hes seen fires, hes seen blitzes, one-on-one coverages. Hes seen switches, like, hes seen everything. So, you got to pick your poison and try to keep him off balanced as best as possible, which is hard to do.

Etc.

The Clippers announced that they have signed Kai Jones and have waived Joshua Primo.