Star forward Kawhi Leonard is being sent home to Los Angeles for treatment on his injured left knee and will miss the final two games of the Clippers‘ road trip, the team announced (Twitter link via Law Murray of The Athletic). The Clips play at Washington on Monday and at Chicago on Tuesday.
Leonard, who missed Friday’s overtime win in Toronto with a right ankle sprain and left knee contusion, is dealing with irritation in his knee. He will be checked out again when the team returns to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who first reported the news (Twitter link), Leonard’s knee injury isn’t considered serious. The six-time All-NBA member sustained the contusion in a January 10 victory at Detroit.
The 33-year-old also missed 10 games in November with right foot and ankle injuries. The Clippers are 3-8 without Leonard so far in 2025/26.
Leonard has played at an MVP level during the Clippers’ dramatic turnaround. They were 6-21 on December 18 but have gone 12-2 since, currently holding an 18-23 record, good for the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.
In 30 games this season (33.8 minutes per contest), Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals, with an excellent .499/.399/.941 shooting line.
Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller, who are both on two-way contracts, have played important roles for the Clippers recently and are likely to receive more minutes with Leonard out.