Clippers: When will Kawhi Leonard be able to play again?

The LA Clippers will need Kawhi Leonard to return if they want to reach the 2021 NBA Finals.

With a nagging knee injury, LA Clippers superstar forward Kawhi Leonard did not travel to Arizona for the first two games of the 2021 Western Conference Finals with the Phoenix Suns.

While Leonard is back in Los Angeles rehabbing his injured knee, it remains to be seen when, or if, he will return to the starting lineup for the best Clippers team in franchise history. Once the series gets back to Los Angeles for Game 3, Leonard’s status may be more of the day-to-day variety. Though he may only play in home games for the Clippers, they still need to win one on the road.

When will Leonard return to the starting lineup for the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals?

LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard injury status update for Western Conference Finals

For all intents and purposes, you can probably count on Leonard to start and play in Game 3, regardless of how the Clippers perform in Game 2. He may be on a minutes restriction, but his presence in the lineup could be enough to galvanize the Los Angeles roster. You could probably expect him to play in Game 4 as well, but him traveling back to Phoenix for Game 5, not so much.

If the Clippers are on the brink of elimination entering Game 5, there is a better chance of Leonard making the trek to Phoenix than if it was all tied up at 2-2. Should the Clippers hold a 3-1 lead, there would not be any reason to force him to travel to the Valley of the Sun. If he plays in Games 3 and 4, he will likely play in Game 6 at home. As far as Game 7, well, it is Game 7, and he will play.

Look for Leonard to load manage his way through this best-of-seven series as best as he can.