Clippers Concerned About Kawhi Leonard's Ankle Injury After Early Exit

Leonard left Saturday's loss to the Kings with a sprained left ankle and his status is uncertain for the team's upcoming games.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:24am

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Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard suffered a sprained left ankle during the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to the Sacramento Kings. Leonard went to the locker room and did not return to the game. Head coach Ty Lue confirmed the injury after the game, but provided no further details on the severity or Leonard's status going forward.

Why it matters

The Clippers are fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, and losing Leonard for any extended period of time would be a major blow to their postseason hopes. Leonard has been relatively healthy this season, but the team and fans have been concerned about his injury history in the past.

The details

With 9:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Clippers trailing by 14 points, Leonard sprained his left ankle while trying to defend a shot attempt by DeMar DeRozan. Leonard immediately went to the bench and then limped to the locker room, unable to return to the game. The Clippers went on to lose the game to the short-handed Kings.

  • The injury occurred with 9:30 remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the Kings.
  • The Clippers' next game is on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A 34-year-old forward for the Los Angeles Clippers who is one of the team's star players.

Ty Lue

The head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.

DeMar DeRozan

A guard for the Sacramento Kings who was involved in the play where Leonard suffered the ankle injury.

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What they’re saying

“Kawhi Leonard has 'a sprained left ankle'.”

— Ty Lue, Head Coach, Los Angeles Clippers (Clippers insider Joey Linn)

What’s next

The Clippers will provide an update on Leonard's status ahead of their game against the Spurs on Monday. If the injury is serious, Leonard could miss multiple games as the Clippers fight for playoff positioning.

The takeaway

The Clippers' playoff hopes hinge heavily on the health of Kawhi Leonard, and this latest ankle injury is a concerning development. The team and fans will be anxiously awaiting more details on the severity of the sprain and Leonard's timeline for return.