The LA Clippers will try to secure their first trip to the Western Conference Finals without Kawhi Leonard in Game 6.
Coach Ty Lew said Leonard was ruled out for Friday's match against the Utah Jazz due to a right knee sprain. Leonard could miss the rest of the series after injuring his knee on a drive during a foul in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Leonard left the game with 4:35 left.
Leonard traveled to Salt Lake City with the team on Tuesday, but then returned to Los Angeles after telling teammates that he would be out for Game 5, which the Clippers beat Paul George's 37 points, 16 rebounds in Utah. and won 119-111 behind five assists. LA leads 3-2 in a best-of-7 series.
Lew stated before Game 5 that there was no timetable for Leonard's return as the team awaits the results of further testing on the knee.
For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell (right ankle pain) and Mike Connelly Jr. (right hamstring strain) are both suspects for Game 6. Mitchell's ankle has deteriorated rapidly throughout the series, and Conley has missed every game.
According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, the Clippers are seeking their first trip to the Western Conference Finals after 50 seasons, the longest team went without reaching the league's final playoff round among active NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL franchises. Has been.
Last year, the Clippers had three chances to reach the conference finals, but they took a 3-1 lead and lost to the Denver Nuggets.