LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s playoff time within the NBA, and the Los Angeles Clippers have 4 potential Corridor of Famers on their roster. However solely three of them are wholesome going right into a first-round matchup with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
Kawhi Leonard has been coping with what the group says is “very, very cussed irritation” in his surgically repaired proper knee. He hasn’t participated in any contact practices and hasn’t performed since March 31.
“I do assume, in some unspecified time in the future, he’ll be with us,” teammate Paul George stated Saturday. “Kawhi desires to be on this greater than anyone.”
However it appears unlikely for Sport 1 on Sunday.
Coach Tyronn Lue has tabbed a alternative starter if Leonard can’t go, though he declined to say who.
“The blokes are prepared,” Lue stated. “That is what you play for, to get to this second to have an opportunity to play for a championship. It’s on all people to provide.”
Final 12 months, George was damage and missed the ultimate 9 video games of the common season and the playoffs. The Clippers didn’t get out of the primary spherical, shedding in 5 video games to Phoenix.
“We’ve simply been unfortunate remaining wholesome,” George stated.
Now, they’re dealing with Dallas for the third time in 5 years. The Clippers beat Dallas in six video games taking part in within the bubble in 2020 and gained a Sport 7 at dwelling in 2021.
The fifth-seeded Mavs are 2.5-point favorites in Sport 1, in line with BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Mavs have their very own set of seemingly Corridor of Famers in Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
“They’re going to attain the basketball,” Clippers guard James Harden stated, “however make it as tough as you may possession by possession.”
The Clippers took two of three from Dallas this season.
“We’ve at all times recognized we’ve bought sufficient to win no matter who’s out and in. It is a very proficient group,” George stated. “I feel we’re good in the case of type of simply holding it collectively.”
The Mavs had been 25-16 on the street this season and gained 16 of their final 20 to finish the common season. The fourth-seeded Clippers went 4-4 with out Leonard over their ultimate eight video games, together with wins over playoff groups Cleveland (after trailing by 26 factors), Denver and Phoenix.
“It was big to get these wins,” Lue stated. “It’s been arduous for us up to now to win with out Kawhi.”
DÉJÀ VU FOR KYRIE
Irving is in a scenario much like the final time he participated in deep playoff runs with LeBron James and Cleveland in 2016 and ’17. The Cavaliers performed Golden State within the NBA Finals every time, successful the title in 2016 earlier than shedding the rematch.
Irving stated he and James realized the best way to let one another have their moments to take over video games, and the best way to problem one another with out moving into screaming matches.
“Me and Luka are doing the identical factor right here,” Irving stated of his Slovenian teammate. “When you’ve gotten any person that may be challenged, and I can have a look at Luka and be like, ‘C’mon, man, flip this up a bit of bit.’ Or he will be like, ‘C’mon, Kai,’ and say one thing in his language or say one thing to me. Even when it’s extra of an encouraging, celebratory second, simply getting any person occurring a optimistic word goes a great distance.”
ROOKIE CENTER’S STATUS
The most important query about well being for Dallas pales in comparison with Leonard. However it’s nonetheless an necessary one for the Mavs.
Rookie middle Dereck Energetic II missed the final eight video games of the common season with a sprained proper knee. He participated in follow all week, however coach Jason Kidd remained imprecise about his availability.
Energetic had a right away impression as a first-round pick of Duke, and is now a part of a two-man middle rotation after a midseason commerce for Daniel Gafford. They play comparable kinds as dunkers and rim protectors.
“The whole lot is trending in the correct path,” Kidd stated.
PICK UP THE PACE
Kidd believes tempo is likely one of the causes for the advance of the Mavs since final season. Dallas was the third-slowest group in 2022-23, and wasn’t significantly better than that after the commerce for Irving. Tempo was an emphasis from the beginning this season, and Dallas completed seventh. The Clippers had been within the backside third of the league in tempo each seasons.
“Whenever you speak concerning the playoffs, it tends to decelerate,” Kidd stated. “For us, we don’t need it to decelerate. We’ve bought to proceed to maintain taking part in with that tempo. Understanding utilizing our depth, utilizing that to our benefit.”
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AP Sports activities Author Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.
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