PHOENIX - The Los Angeles Clippers will again be without Kawhi Leonard in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and another top defender is also vying for Marcus Morris.
Clippers coach Ty Lew said on Monday that Leonard was out with a sprain in his right knee. There has been no change in his position, which remains uncertain for the rest of the series.
Lew said he was not sure of Morris' position for Game 2 as the opening power forward injured his right knee and played only five minutes in the second half for the Suns in the Clippers' 120-114 Game 1.
Morris, who is undergoing treatment for his knee, was not listed on the Clippers' injury report on Monday afternoon.
"Still experiencing some pain, but he's getting treatment round the clock," Lew said of Morris. "Not sure about his situation tomorrow, but he's doing everything in his power to try to stay out tomorrow night."
The Sons had no updates on the status of star point guard Chris Paul for Game 2. Paul has been in the league's health and safety protocol since Wednesday and has not played in Game 1.
"There is no update," said Suns coach Monty Williams after Monday's practice. "Nothing has changed."
While Leonard is not in Phoenix with the team, the Clippers franchise player has been very involved behind the scenes. Lew said Leonard wanted to FaceTime him while the head coach was meeting with his staff on Monday afternoon.
"Text this time," Lew said of her communication with Leonard on Monday. "He wanted to FaceTime, but I don't like FaceTime."
Leonard constantly wants to be up to date on the team's strategies and game plan.
At halftime in Game 6, when the Clippers trailed the Utah Jazz by 22, Leonard visited the coach's office at Staples Center to go over an adjustment.
"He just keeps on," said Lew. "He likes to know the adjustments we're going to make. He likes to know the game plan, so when he watches the game, he can understand what we're doing well and what we're doing bad, And tell the coaches, tell the players you know. He's very busy. Even though he's back home, he's still off and tuned in."
Leonard has been busy keeping players' group text chats buzzing with the suggestions and ideas he sees while watching from Los Angeles.
"He's a big part of this team, and it's not like he's done," said center Ivica Zubac. "He's involved and he's trying to help in different ways.
"Kavi is really big on details. He was like that when he was playing, and when he's on edge he's like that. He's all about the details."
After Game 1, in which Devin Booker had a 40-point triple-double, the Clippers will need all the details they can find to slow down the Sun guard.
"I thought he did a good job of setting our defense apart," Lew said. "We made a few mistakes, but Devin Booker did a great job of figuring out what play he wanted to make when we fired at him to try to double-team. When we did the pick-and-roll attacked, they [knew] exactly where their men wanted to be, and they put us in some difficult positions. They did a good job of executing their game plan aggressively."