The Los Angeles Clippers are set to become whole for the first time this season on Saturday night when Kawhi Leonard makes his expected season debut against the Atlanta Hawks in Inglewood, Calif.
Leonard, 33, has struggled with recurring knee issues that cropped up again late last season, even missing an opportunity to play for Team USA this past summer at the Paris Olympics. A six-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Leonard averaged 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in 68 games last season after he didn’t play at all in the 2021-22 campaign following knee surgery.
In addition to Leonard’s debut, Terance Mann is expected to return from a fractured finger that required surgery and forced him to miss the past 12 games. Mann has averaged 6.3 points in 23 games (11 starts).
The Clippers have dropped consecutive games, including 116-98 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. James Harden sat out because of right groin soreness but is in line to return Saturday1. The team’s leading rebounder, Ivica Zubac (12.4 rpg), played Thursday but nearly was a scratch with an undisclosed injury, according to coach Tyronn Lue. To make matters worse, leading scorer Norman Powell (23.6 ppg) was 1 of 11 from the floor and committed six turnovers.
Now comes a return home where Los Angeles has won 11 of the last 13 games in its new building. Saturday will be the lone home game for the Clippers in a stretch of six contests.
The Hawks will play in the Los Angeles area for the second time in two nights following a 119-102 loss to the Lakers on Friday. Trae Young scored 33 points for Atlanta, while Jalen Johnson added 19 after missing a loss at Denver on Wednesday with a sore shoulder.
The Hawks have followed a four-game winning streak with consecutive losses and are 1-2 to open a six-game trip that also has stops at Utah and Phoenix ahead. Young’s 22.6 ppg average is his lowest since his rookie season (19.1) of 2018-19 as he continues to evolve as a star, with growth in areas outside of scoring.
Saturday’s meeting will be the first of two games between the teams this season, with a rematch set for March 14 at Atlanta.
