The Los Angeles Clippers have been navigating the past three games without their cornerstone, Kawhi Leonard, as he recovers from a left knee contusion. Despite his absence, the team has managed to hold steady, going 2-1 in that stretch. Now, there’s a glimmer of optimism for Clippers fans: Leonard has been upgraded to questionable ahead of Thursday night’s high-profile matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers-a game that could feature a star-studded showdown with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Leonard’s upgraded status is the first encouraging sign since the injury occurred back on January 10th during a road game against the Detroit Pistons. That night marked the second game of a back-to-back for the Clippers, who had just taken care of business against the Brooklyn Nets the night before.
According to a team spokesperson, Leonard sustained the contusion during the first quarter in Detroit. While the exact moment is still somewhat unclear, a sequence around the 6:37 mark stands out: Leonard absorbed contact to his left knee from Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson, who was fighting over an Ivica Zubac screen near the top of the key.
Moments later, Paul Reed made a swipe at the ball and caught Leonard again on the same knee, sending him to the floor.
Here’s the thing: Leonard didn’t just walk it off-he played through it. He finished the game, logging just under 31 minutes, and then suited up for the next two contests at home against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. Not only did he play, but he looked like himself, contributing to back-to-back wins while staying on the floor for about 30 minutes in each outing.
Kawhi Leonard is QUESTIONABLE to play vs. the Lakers with a left knee contusion. https://t.co/vlcWlS9S9B
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 22, 2026
Still, the Clippers opted for caution after that stretch, holding Leonard out of the last three games as he continues to manage the injury. Given his history and the team’s long-term goals, it’s a move that makes sense. But with his status now upgraded, all eyes will be on head coach Tyronn Lue’s pregame availability Thursday for more clarity on Leonard’s availability.
When Leonard is on the court, he’s been nothing short of elite this season. Through 30 appearances, he’s averaging 28.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals, and nearly three made threes per game.
He’s doing it efficiently too, shooting 49.7% from the field and 39.9% from deep. And here’s the kicker-he currently leads the NBA in both free throw percentage and steals per game.
That’s vintage Kawhi: a two-way force who can tilt the game on both ends.
The Clippers' record tells a story of just how critical Leonard is to their success. They’re 4-9 without him this season, compared to 15-15 when he plays.
That’s a .500 team with him and one that struggles to keep pace without him. At 19-24 overall, the Clippers currently sit in the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings-a play-in position.
But with Leonard’s return potentially on the horizon, they’ll look to gain some traction and make a push toward the upper half of the West.
Thursday night’s game carries weight-not just because of the marquee names involved, but because it could mark the return of one of the league’s most impactful players. If Leonard is back, the Clippers get their anchor.
It’s been difficult to pinpoint where exactly Kawhi Leonard suffered the left knee contusion against the Pistons.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 22, 2026
This play, however, appears to be a spot where it likely occurred, where Kawhi took two bumps to that left knee from Ausar Thompson and Paul Reed. (Hat tip to… https://t.co/HPPzOofK61 pic.twitter.com/gIYVy3Dl3M
If not, they’ll need to keep finding ways to stay afloat without their two-time Finals MVP. Either way, the next few days will be telling for a team looking to turn the corner.