In a game that became testy in the fourth quarter, the health of Kawhi Leonard was paramount for the Clippers.
Leonard was listed as questionable because of right knee inflammation for Game 3, and though he started Friday night, he rarely looked sharp during the Clippers’ 101-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Leonard, who was in and out of the game, departed for the final time with 4:09 left and the Clippers down by 15 points. He played 25 minutes and produced nine points, nine rebounds and four turnovers in a game in which the Clippers trailed by 21 in the fourth quarter.
Leonard said his knee “just didn’t respond the way we wanted” after he played in Game 2 on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
“But we’re going to get it right,” Leonard said. “Time will tell, but we’re doing all the right things.”
Leonard missed the last eight regular-season games and the first playoff game. He didn’t have any contact during his practices in ramping up to get back.
Leonard played 35 minutes in his return but was rusty after sitting out since March 31. He missed 10 of 17 shots, all of his three-pointers and scored 15 points.
“It was pretty good the first game,” Leonard said of the inflammation. “Like I said, it didn’t respond the way we wanted it to. Tonight it was either play limited minutes or not play. And I wanted to be on the floor to help the team. And, that’s what the results are. Frustrating that it happened to me this late in the season. But, yeah, we’re going to keep going. We’re going to get it right.”
The Clippers trail the best-of-seven series 2-1 and Game 4 is here Sunday. That’s less than 48 hours for Leonard and the Clippers to see how the inflammation can be managed.
Leonard said “Yeah” when asked if he’ll play.
“The way it is right now, I’ll see tomorrow,” Leonard said. “But I want to play. So…”
Paul George, who was in foul trouble all game, had just seven points, going three for 11 from the field and one for six from three-point range. He played 30 minutes and had five fouls.
With Leonard limited, the Clippers needed George to dominate, especially with the team turning the ball over 19 times for 29 points for the Mavericks.
“I thought this was playoff basketball,” George said. “A couple of them have been touch fouls. I don’t know. Defense can be physical, they can be aggressive on me on the other side of it, I pick up quick, cheap ones and it’s frustrating.
“But I got to be better. I got to be better, because I felt good rhythm-wise to start the game off and then pick up those [fouls] and get sent to the bench, and then it just felt like the whole game I couldn’t find how to be aggressive and create contact and balance all of that while trying to stay within the offense and move the ball and play off the ball, play aggressive and downhill. It was just a lot I was thinking about. Took me out of my game. I got to be better. It really was frustrating, though.”
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, tries to drive past Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the first half Friday.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
The game grew tense in the fourth quarter when Russell Westbrook, who missed all seven of his shots including all four of his three-pointers to finish with one point, got into it with Dallas star Luka Doncic, the two pushing each other. Westbrook and Dallas’ P.J. Washington then shoved each other. Westbrook and Washington, who got into a trash-talking match with Terance Mann, were given technical fouls and ejected.
“Everyone wants to play well and do well, but we just got to keep our composure no matter how the calls go,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Just got to keep your composure. We got to be better down the stretch when it comes to that.”
Leonard played almost 10 minutes in the first half, sitting for long stretches, not entering the game to start the second quarter when the Clippers played small and didn’t have George available because of foul trouble. Leonard came out for the first time with six minutes left in the first quarter and didn’t return until there was 6:58 left in the second quarter.
With 3:01 left in the half, Leonard was pulled again and didn’t return for the rest of the half. He had three points, four rebounds and two turnovers before heading to the locker room.
“It takes time to get in a rhythm, like I was saying before. I’m just happy I played,” Leonard said. “For the most part, was able to get out there and experience the game … I’m going to keep going.”