It’s no secret—when Kawhi Leonard is on the floor, the Clippers are legitimate playoff contenders. When he’s not? That’s a whole different story. And as they gear up to face the Sacramento Kings tonight at the Intuit Dome, they’re staring down one of those situations.
Sitting 8th in the West, the Clippers are clinging to a Play-In spot. But their recent inconsistencies, combined with the Kings gaining momentum, have put them in a dangerous position—just 0.5 games away from slipping further down the standings. The equation is simple: lose tonight, and Sacramento leapfrogs them in the playoff race.
The big question now is—will Kawhi be available for this must-win showdown?
Clippers injury report and predicted lineup
The Clippers have only seen The Klaw suit up 21 times this season, and his absence has been felt. Kawhi Leonard missed the first 34 games due to right knee inflammation suffered just a week before the season opener. Without him, the Clippers managed a respectable 19-15 record, hovering around a 56% win rate. But once Leonard returned, everything changed—they won 7 of their next 9, their offensive and defensive metrics skyrocketed, and for the first time in franchise history, they truly believed a championship was within reach.
Fortunately for LA, Leonard will be available against the Kings. But the bad news? They’ll still be missing two key players.
The biggest blow comes from the absence of Norman Powell, who aggravated his hamstring injury in the Clippers’ recent loss to the Suns. He’s set to be re-evaluated in five days, ruling him out for tonight’s matchup. And this isn’t just any role player we’re talking about—Powell is the Clippers’ leading scorer this season, despite playing just 46 games.
To make matters worse, Sacramento is one of his favorite teams to torch. Powell has averaged 31 points against the Kings this season, shooting a scorching 55.6% from deep. Unfortunately for LA, they’ll have to wait for another chance to see Stormin’ Norman light up Sacramento.
The other name on the Clippers’ injury list? Ben Simmons. The guard has now missed four straight games due to a lingering knee issue, officially ruling him out against Sacramento. And for Simmons, this feels all too familiar.
Injuries have overshadowed his NBA career, making headlines just as much—if not more—than his performances on the court. A year ago, he underwent back surgery that sidelined him indefinitely, another frustrating chapter in his battle to stay healthy.
He just played 33 game for the Nets before they waived him off in Feb. He subsequently got picked up by the Clippers, being a decent value addition for Tyronn Lue.
Image Credits: Imagn
Patrick Baldwin Jr., Cam Christie, Seth Lundy, and Trentyn Flowers are also out due to their two-way commitments. That being said, this is their predicted lineup for the Kings clash:
Point Guard
James Harden
Shooting Guard
Kris Dunn
Power Forward
Kawhi Leonard
Small Forward
Amir Coffey
Center
Ivica Zubac
The Clippers need this more than anything. They lose against the Kings, and they’re suddenly 9th. They’re banking hard on Kawhi Leonard to step up like he usually does.
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