FILE — Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on April 09, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images/AFP
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will sit out again Friday when Los Angeles attempts to eliminate the visiting Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Leonard sprained his right knee in Clippers’ Game 4 home win on Monday, then sat out Game 5 at Salt Lake City on Wednesday while his teammates earned a 119-111 victory to go up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue made the official announcement Thursday that Leonard will be unavailable Friday.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, is averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the postseason after putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in the regular season.
The Clippers are also without another member of their frontcourt, Serge Ibaka, who underwent postseason-ending back surgery last week.
The Jazz have played the entire series to date without All-Star guard Mike Conley due to a strained right hamstring. He is listed as questionable for Game 6, as is Donovan Mitchell, who has played through a right ankle injury.