The Los Angeles Clippers are heading north to face the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, but two key names are hovering in limbo: Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac. Both are officially listed as questionable, and for a Clippers team that's been surging lately, their availability could swing the momentum either way.
Let’s start with Leonard. He’s been on an absolute tear lately-back-to-back 33+ point games, including a 35-point performance in a win over the Hornets, and a season-high 45-point explosion against the Jazz on New Year’s Day.
That’s not just strong play-that’s vintage Kawhi, the kind of form that makes you think of playoff basketball in the middle of January. Head coach Tyronn Lue has even said Leonard's playing at a postseason level right now.
But with a sprained right ankle, the Clippers may opt to play it safe, especially against a struggling Raptors squad.
Then there's Zubac, who’s also questionable with a sprained left ankle. He’s been in the middle of trade rumors, but on the court, he’s been steady and productive-averaging a double-double with 14.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Zubac’s presence in the paint has been a major factor in the Clippers’ recent turnaround, anchoring the defense and providing a reliable interior scoring option.
And that turnaround has been real. The Clippers have won 11 of their last 13 games and are currently riding a four-game winning streak.
That surge has pulled them to a 17-23 record, tying them with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings. It’s a team that looked lost earlier in the season but is now starting to find its rhythm-and Leonard and Zubac have been at the heart of that resurgence.
So what does that mean for Friday night in Toronto? As of now, it's a waiting game. Both Leonard and Zubac are game-time decisions, and with the Clippers looking to keep the momentum rolling, their availability could be crucial.
Here’s a quick look at the broader injury landscape heading into Friday’s action:
- Kawhi Leonard (Clippers): Questionable - right ankle sprain
- Ivica Zubac (Clippers): Questionable - left ankle sprain
- Bradley Beal: Out - left hip fracture
- Bogdan Bogdanovic: Out - left hamstring injury
- John Collins: Questionable - right groin soreness
- Derrick Jones Jr.: Out - right knee sprain
- Chris Paul: Out - not with the team
- RJ Barrett: Out - left ankle sprain
- Jamison Battle: Out - left ankle sprain
- Sandro Mamukelashvili: Questionable - illness
- Jakob Poeltl: Out - lower back sprain
- Immanuel Quickley: Questionable - back spasms
- Garrett Temple: Questionable - back spasms
- Ja’Kobe Walter: Out - right hip pointer
The Clippers have been building something over the past few weeks. Whether Leonard and Zubac suit up or not, this matchup in Toronto is another opportunity to keep that momentum going-or a challenge to see how deep this roster really is. Either way, all eyes will be on the status report leading up to tip-off.