Kawhi Leonard was rested for the LA Clippers’ regular-season finale against the Golden State Warriors.
Coach Tyronn Lue said it was a smart decision to get Leonard as close to 100% as possible, as he has been dealing with wrist and ankle issues for a couple of weeks. Steph Curry and the Warriors have already clinched the No. 10 seed for the play-in tournament, where they could face the Clippers again.
Leonard’s Healthy Season
Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists during a mostly healthy season. He played his second-most games as a Clipper this season. Leonard played 68 games two years ago after being limited to 37 in 2024-25 because of injuries.
Lue expressed his happiness for Leonard being able to get back on the court for a lot of games this year and being able to play in back-to-backs and carry the team when they’re down.
Honours Still Within Reach
Despite not playing on Sunday, Leonard remains eligible for postseason honours, including All-NBA. He is among those who just made the minimum game requirement, including Victor Wembanyama and Evan Mobley. Leonard played in his 65th game on Friday, meeting the minimum to qualify.
End of Scoring Streak
Leonard’s absence ended his career-high regular-season streak of 57 straight games with 20 or more points. This leaves him tied with Bob McAdoo for the longest such streak in franchise history.
The Warriors have already clinched the No. 10 seed for the play-in tournament and may face the Clippers again.