James Harden scores 41 as Clippers blow out Jazz amid optimism about Kawhi Leonard

[ad_1]

Clippers guard James Harden, right, drives on Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton in the first half of the Clippers 144-107 win Monday at the Intuit Dome. Harden scored 24 points in the first quarter. (William Liang / Associated Press)

Kawhi Leonard walked past the media in the Clippers’ locker room with a plate of food in his hands, his mood seemingly good. He even spoke to the media — as short as it was.

“What’s up?” Leonard said. “What’s up? What’s up?”

Indeed, what is up with Leonard and when will he make his season debut after missing the first 27 games of the season because of a right knee injury?

Before the Clippers’ 144-107 win over the Utah Jazz at the Intuit Dome on Monday night, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was asked about the team’s practice plans for Leonard and whether he would join them on their upcoming trip to Dallas and Memphis.

“Um, not sure about traveling right now,” Lue said. “It hasn’t been determined yet. So, we’ll see going forward after tonight, tomorrow, kind of get a chance to reassess everything and kind of go after tomorrow. See what happens.”

The Clippers, who saw James Harden blast off for 41 points on 11-for-17 shooting, including seven for 11 on three-pointers against the Jazz, are off the next two days before playing the Mavericks on Thursday and Saturday. The Clippers finish their trip against Memphis on Dec. 23.

Read more: Clippers can’t keep pace during second half in loss to the Nuggets

Lue was asked how Leonard’s progress after the forward took part in two non-contact practice sessions last week.

“Progressed very well,” Lue said, “yeah, progressed very well.”

So is Leonard close to returning, perhaps in the next three or four games or in a couple of weeks?

“I’m not sure,” Lue said.

Lue was then asked who might know the answer, laughing before saying Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, would be the one to ask.

“You talk to them,” Lue said. “You’re trying to get me in trouble, man.”

Lue was told that reporters didn’t want to make any wrong assumptions about Leonard’s potential return timeline.

“And I don’t want…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/james-harden-scores-41-clippers-061709539.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-12-17 06:17:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.