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Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard took his first step toward playing in Game 1 of the first round against the Dallas Mavericks when he was a limited participant in the LA Clippers‘ first postseason practice on Tuesday.
Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season with inflammation in his surgically-repaired right knee.
“Not fully, but he’s going to be a part of practice,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said before practice on Tuesday. “He’s going to do a quarter of the practice.”
Lue would only say “We’ll see” in regards to whether Leonard will be ready for Game 1 on Sunday.
James Harden, who sat out three of the final four regular season games with inflammation in his right foot, was set to go through a full practice according to Lue.
Leonard has not played since March 31 against Charlotte. Lue said earlier in April that Leonard’s knee injury first popped up during that game but became an issue the next day when the team sent its star home to Los Angeles from Sacramento on that road trip.
Leonard underwent surgery in July of 2021 to repair a torn ACL he suffered in his right knee during a second-round series against Utah. And then last June, Leonard underwent a cleanup procedure to repair a torn meniscus suffered in the same knee during last season’s first round against Phoenix.
Now, after not playing in over two weeks, the two-time Finals MVP is being ramped up this week for the playoffs.
“Yeah,” Lue said when asked about his star increasing his workload. “Just bring him along slowly.”