Kawhi Leonard’s Return Could Be the Game-Changer the Clippers Desperately Need Against Cavaliers Sunday

The Los Angeles Clippers have been stumbling through a nightmare stretch, dropping 9 out of their last 10 games — yeah, it’s been rough. But Saturday brought a spark of hope: Kawhi Leonard is set to step back into the lineup Sunday against Cleveland. This isn’t just a rumor; NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news, and it’s since been echoed by other reliable sources. Leonard’s been sidelined for 10 games now with a stubborn foot and ankle sprain, so his return couldn’t come at a better time. The timing’s crucial, too, since he should be ready to face the Lakers in a high-stakes NBA Cup showdown — a game that’s absolutely worth tuning in for on NBC and Peacock. Before his injury, Leonard was a scoring machine, averaging 24.4 points on over 50% shooting, plus pulling down 5.7 boards per game. Coach Tyronn Lue’s been urging patience amid a tough 4-11 start and a spot near the bottom of the West standings. No first-round pick to count on here — that went to OKC in the Paul George trade — so tanking isn’t even in the cards. Lue’s mantra? “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.” Now with Leonard back, maybe it’s time for a new chapter… though the team’s still without Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones Jr., injuries that cloud the horizon. It’s a pivotal moment for the Clippers — can they turn things around? Only time will tell. LEARN MORE.

The Los Angeles Clippers, losers of 9-of-10, needed some good news.

They got it Saturday: Kawhi Leonard will return to the rotation on Sunday, when Los Angeles visits Cleveland, a story broken by NBA insider Chris Haynes, and since confirmed by other sources. At that point, Leonard will have missed 10 games due to a foot and ankle sprain.

That means Leonard should be available when the Clippers take on the Lakers in a critical Group B NBA Cup game, which you can watch on Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.

Leonard averaged 24.4 points on 50.5% shooting, plus grabbing 5.7 rebounds a game in the six games he played before his injury.

Coach Tyronn Lue has been preaching patience in Los Angeles as the team has fallen to 4-11 on the season and 13th in the West. (The Clippers don’t own their first-round pick, it goes to Oklahoma City as the last piece of the Paul George trade, so there is no reason for them to tank.)

“Just stay with it…” Lue said recently when asked his message to Clippers fans. “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. And so then we get some more guys back, it could be a different story.”

He’s getting one guy back, and a critical guy in Leonard. However, the Clippers remain without Bradley Beal (hip surgery, done for the season) and Derrick Jones Jr. (sprained MCL).