LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers will attempt to rebound from their most lopsided loss in franchise history without Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard will not suit up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night as the All-Star forward misses his second straight game due to a mouth laceration. Leonard suffered the injury midway through the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ win at the Denver Nuggets on Christmas night. The injury required eight stitches to close.
“I am not sure when he’s getting the stitches out,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said before facing Minnesota. “But he’s right now just day-to-day and recovery.”
The Clippers, who are playing the first game of a home back-to-back set against Minnesota and the Portland Trail Blazers, also will be without starting power forward Marcus Morris Sr. Morris has yet to play this season due to a knee injury, but he returned to practice pn Monday and looked good, Lue said.
Without Leonard and Morris on Sunday, the Clippers trailed 77-27 in the first half before losing 124-73 to the Dallas Mavericks. The 51-point loss was the worst defeat in franchise history, and the 50-point halftime lead by the Mavericks was the largest halftime lead in NBA history.