The Clippers played their first game at the Intuit Dome, their new home in Inglewood, in a preseason game Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, and they did it without Kawhi Leonard — again.
The Clippers have one more preseason game to play, against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, which will be played in owner Steve Ballmer’s new $2 billion palace, but will Leonard be on the court?
“He won’t play Thursday,” Lue said.
That’s because Leonard is still suffering from inflammation in his right knee.
As the Clippers played their first regular season game at home on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns, Lue was asked what the plan was for Leonard moving forward.
Learn more: Clippers unsure if Kawhi Leonard will be healthy by season start
“Keep rehabilitating, keep improving and keep checking the boxes,” he said.
Leonard missed the Clippers’ final eight regular season games of the 2023-24 campaign because of his knee. He played in just two of the Clippers’ six first-round playoff games against the Mavericks.
He is in the first year of a three-year contract extension worth $152 million, but there remains uncertainty over when Leonard will be able to play. On Thursday, Lue said he was “not sure” if Leonard would play in the Clippers’ season opener.
Meanwhile, James Harden played his fourth preseason game for the Clippers. But Harden, the Clippers’ other star alongside Leonard, won’t play in the final preseason game, Lue said.
Harden had a double-double against the Mavericks with 10 points and 12 assists. But he was just three of 12 from the field in 23 minutes in the Clippers’ 110-96 win over Dallas.
“He does all the right things,” Lue said. “He’s been a great leader, on and off the field, and he’s been in that situation many times in Houston. So, he is ready to take on the challenge.
For Norman Powell, the challenge is to secure a place in the starting lineup.
Learn more: With six new players, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue teaches again
That was his goal at the start of Clippers training camp and that hasn’t changed.
Despite being one of the best sixth men in the NBA last season, Powell is looking to play a bigger role with the Clippers.
Lue outlined what he expects from Powell, who had 13 points on four-of-eight shooting against the Mavericks.
“Getting the starters’ minutes,” Lue said. “Being able to score in basketball. When you don’t, just challenge yourself defensively every night. So being able to hold your position, being able to take on guys. We talked about it two years ago, we saw it in the playoffs in Phoenix, like rising to the challenge defensively. He’s doing much better.
“So just being able to guard guys every night, being able to switch it up, sometimes guarding the point guards when we need him too. He’s been phenomenal so far in training camp.”
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
