Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 1 vs. Mavericks / News - Basketnews.com

Leonard will miss Game 1 with knee inflammation. He has been on the practice court in recent days but hasn't practiced with contact. Leonard will be monitored day by day, head coach Tyronn Lue said.

Credit: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix Credit Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

The Los Angeles Clippers will begin the series against the Dallas Mavericks without their biggest star.

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Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 1 due to knee inflammation, head coach Tyronn Lue announced.

While the player has been on the court in the last couple of days, he hasn't practiced with contact and will be monitored day by day, the coach said.

Leonard has been sidelined since March 31, missing the final eight games of the regular season. Earlier this month, he reportedly received an injection in his knee, as per The Athletic's sources.

Despite his absence in the latter part of the regular season, Leonard enjoyed his healthiest campaign in four years with the Clippers, appearing in 68 games and averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists as an All-Star forward.

Leonard has missed 12 of the last 14 Clippers playoff games. He and Paul George have both been available for only 11 of 25 total playoff games since 2021.

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