Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks, the Clippers fell short with a final score of 96-93. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading leads throughout the night. The Clippers, led by star players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, fought hard to keep up with the Mavericks' dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Leonard received the loudest cheers of anyone in the team’s starting lineup when he was introduced. He stole the ball from Kyrie Irving , but missed his first jumper in the lane in the opening minutes.
Leonard came back after missing three weeks because of right knee inflammation.
“He’s done all the necessary things he has to do to get on the floor and so he’s checked every box,” coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “He’s ready to go.”
Leonard won’t be under a minutes restriction; instead, Lue will gauge how his superstar forward is feeling during the game.
Leonard had participated in practices, including Monday's, leading into Game 2. Asked if Leonard had gone through contact before returning, Lue said his star checked off all the boxes for a safe return but added that the contact would come in Game 2.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had described Leonard's inflammation as "unpredictable" and "stubborn" last week.
Tyronn Lue said the All-Star forward didn’t participate in any contact drills. Even so, Lue said Leonard was ready.
The Clippers, of course, are better off with Leonard in the lineup. A six-time All-Star, seven-time All-Defensive team selection and five-time All-NBA selection, Leonard is one of the best two-way players in basketball.
He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game this season while shooting 52.5% from the floor and 41.7% from 3-point distance. Until his knee issue, he had largely avoided the injury concerns that have plagued his career. He played in 68 regular-season games, his most since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs.
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