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Clippers still unsure if Kawhi Leonard will play Game 1: 'Very unpredictable'

Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times on

Published in Basketball

LOS ANGELES — Day 3 of the continuing injury update regarding Kawhi Leonard brought in Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank to explain more details and to tell the media that his All-Star forward will be listed as “questionable” for Game 1 of the playoffs Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Leonard, who missed the last eight games of the season, has had swelling in the knee that has prevented him from participating in full-contact practice for the Clippers’ first-round series.

“Kawhi has been dealing with inflammation for almost three weeks in his right knee,” Frank said before practice Thursday. “He’s doing everything. Our medical staff is doing everything to get the inflammation down so he can play. Progress has been made, but more progress needs [to be made]. The inflammation needs to continue to reduce so he can do functional basketball movements.”

Frank said it’s impossible to predict when the inflammation would subside to allow Leonard to practice fully and play in the seven-game series.

“The one thing I would share with you is that inflammation is unpredictable,” Frank said. “So, we’d love to have a crystal ball and Kawhi would love to have a crystal ball and know exactly on this day, but you just control what you can control and hopefully the inflammation reduces in a short amount of time and he’s back on the court. That’s the goal.”

Frank was asked about a report that said Leonard got an injection in his knee to reduce the inflammation.

 

“Yeah, we don’t comment on any specific treatments, obviously,” Frank said. “What I’d share with you is he’s doing everything he can and we’re doing everything we can medically. But specific treatments, regardless of the player, we would never comment on it.

“He’ll be questionable for Sunday. I’m trying to be as transparent as possible. It is just very unpredictable. So, if things continue to get better and better, there’s a chance. So we’ll be hopeful.”

Leonard played in the Clippers’ first two playoff games last season against the Phoenix Suns, but he missed the rest of that series with what eventually was announced as a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Frank was asked if that knee injury is related to the current one.

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