Clippers rule out Kawhi Leonard (knee) for Game 5 vs. Suns

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The LA Clippers will try to keep their season alive without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers ruled out both of their franchise stars on Monday ahead of Tuesday's game at Phoenix. The Suns lead the Clippers 3-1 and can clinch the Western Conference first-round series with one more win.

Leonard has not played since Game 2 because of a right knee sprain that he suffered in Game 1. Leonard played through it in Game 2, but the injury worsened, and it will keep him out for a third straight game.

Clippers coach Ty Lue said Leonard received treatment and did not practice on Monday. Lue made it clear, for anyone who has criticized Leonard for load management or perhaps doubts this current injury, that his star forward is injured.

«He's definitely hurt,» Lue said of Leonard, who averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the first two games of the series. «Like this is not load management where he's taking time off. He's shown in his past that he's played through injuries in the playoffs. If it's something that he can't play through, then it has to be pretty serious.

»We're not talking about he's sitting out because of load management or he's tired or nothing like that. It's an actual thing. What the outside is saying, who cares."

George has been out since March 21 with a right knee sprain. He has been working out on the court and could be seen going harder on his moves and drives than he did the week before when the media was allowed to watch practice on Monday. A potential return for George, though, had been considered unlikely since the start of the series.

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