The Los Angeles Clippers faced a tough night at the Intuit Dome with a 118-109 loss to the Sacramento Kings, but the real blow came when Kawhi Leonard exited the game early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Leonard, who twisted his ankle while defending against DeMar DeRozan, was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Leonard's departure, with 9:27 left on the clock, was a significant setback. The 34-year-old had been enjoying a healthy stretch, missing just one of the Clippers' last 23 games due to left ankle soreness. This consistency allowed him to deliver some stellar performances, including a 45-point game against the Timberwolves earlier in the week.
Before his injury, Leonard was on track for another standout performance, tallying 31 points on 13-23 shooting, along with six rebounds and two steals in just 26 minutes. Despite his efforts, the Clippers were trailing 97-83 when he left the court, marking one of their more challenging outings in recent months.
Head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed postgame that Leonard is dealing with a sprained left ankle. Leonard's season averages of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks highlight his importance to the team, and they'll be eager to learn how long he might be sidelined.
Ankle issues have been a recurring theme for Leonard this season. He missed 10 games in November 2025 due to right ankle and foot sprains and three more in January 2026 with another right ankle sprain. Without Leonard, the Clippers have struggled, posting a 4-10 record in his absence.
The Clippers had been on a roll, winning seven of their last eight games before this setback. Now, with a 34-33 record, they remain eighth in the Western Conference.
They'll look to regroup as they prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs next at the Intuit Dome on Monday at 10 p.m. ET.