Injury Report Clippers – Suns: Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George run on the court?

April 9, 2023

The Los Angeles Clippers look to secure a guaranteed playoff spot when they travel to Phoenix to face the Suns on Sunday afternoon.

The Clippers are sixth in the West, but the Lakers are right on their tail, while the Suns are fourth at 45-36. This season, the Suns have defeated the Clippers twice. The game will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Update Injury for Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns

The Los Angeles Clippers still have something to play for in this final game. They are vying with Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference’s final two guaranteed playoff spots. One of them will be forced to compete in the play-in tournament.

The Clippers have the tiebreaker over the Lakers because they are 4-0 against their crosstown rivals, but they must win to secure the final guaranteed playoff spot. However, they have a chance to catch the Warriors, so expect a full-throttle effort from the Clippers on Sunday afternoon.

  • Status updates on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George

Coach Tyronn Lue stated that no Clippers players will be rested against the Suns on Sunday, implying that Leonard will play both ends of the Saturday-Sunday back-to-back, according to Joey Linn of SI.com.

Leonard scored 27 points (7-17 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 10-10 FT) and grabbed eight rebounds, four assists, and one block in 29 minutes against the Trail Blazers on Saturday.

The Clippers are determined to earn the highest seed possible, even if it means facing the Suns in Round 1.

Assuming Leonard plays Sunday, it will be his first appearance in both ends of a back-to-back since April 2021.

According to Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times, Paul George (knee) still does not have a return date.

George was given a 2-to-3-week return window on March 22 and was expected to miss the entire regular season.

It’s a discouraging update with the Play In just three days away and the Clippers a half-game ahead of the No. 8 seed. Eric Gordon, Norman Powell, and Terance Mann should all see increased roles while he is out.

Meanwhile, everything is fine in Phoenix. Kevin Durant is healthy and playing. He’s had a good run of games to get used to his new teammates, and everyone is currently healthy. They’ve already clinched the fourth seed, so there’s really nothing to play for in this one.

Nobody can catch them, and no one can catch the Kings. However, fourth place is not a bad spot because they have homecourt advantage in the first round.

And believe me when I say that none of the top three teams want to face them in the second round if they make it. So don’t expect to see Durant, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, or Deandre Ayton on Sunday.

Kevin Durant and the rest of Phoenix’s Big 4 will sit out a second straight game to finish the regular season.

Durant has averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 33.6 minutes in eight games with the Suns.