Is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight against the Detroit Pistons? | December 26th, 2022 | 2022-23 NBA Season

The LA Clippers are looking to get back on track tonight against the Detroit Pistons, following their loss on Friday night to Philadelphia. However, they will have to do so without star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard is reportedly set to miss the game due to rest/right knee injury management. The Clippers are resting Leonard as Monday night is the first night of a back-to-back for LA. The Clippers will face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.

The Detroit Pistons have a league-worst 8-27 record. Meanwhile, the Raptors are 15-18 and 10th in the Eastern Conference but trending up after two big wins against New York and Cleveland. So the Clippers are saving Leonard for the more formidable opponent in the back-to-back set.

LA is 19-15 and fifth in the Western Conference. Tonight’s game will mark the second game of a five-game road trip for the Clippers.

LA Clippers' record without Kawhi Leonard this season

LA Clippers star wing Paul George

The LA Clippers are no strangers to playing without Kawhi Leonard. After missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, Leonard has already missed 21 of the Clippers’ 34 games this season. LA is just 9-12 without Leonard and 10-3 with him.

Leonard had played in three straight games entering tonight. He averaged 25.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 50.9% shooting during that three-game stretch.

However, given his extensive injury history, it’s easy to see why the Clippers are being cautious with him in a relatively meaningless regular season game.

In Leonard's absence, role players such as Amir Coffey and Terance Mann are likely to see increased playing time. Meanwhile, Leonard’s co-star, Paul George, will have to shoulder a heavier workload as well.