Clippers Injury Report vs. Mavericks: Will Kawhi Leonard Play?

Kawhi Leonard is still dealing with an ankle injury as the Clippers look to end their losing streak.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:20pm

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The Los Angeles Clippers have fallen to ninth place in the Western Conference standings after a four-game losing streak. A big reason for their struggles has been injuries, particularly to star forward Kawhi Leonard, who sprained his ankle last week and has been limited in recent games. Leonard played through the injury against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday but did not look 100% and was held out of the second game of the back-to-back. The Clippers will face the struggling Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, and it remains to be seen how much Leonard will play as the team tries to balance his recovery with the need for wins down the stretch.

Why it matters

The Clippers' playoff positioning is in jeopardy due to their recent losing streak, and their ability to get healthy and have their stars like Leonard available will be crucial as they try to secure a spot in the postseason. The Mavericks, meanwhile, have fallen off in recent weeks and are more focused on improving their draft position than winning games at this point.

The details

Leonard sprained his ankle against the Sacramento Kings last week and has missed two of the Clippers' last three games as a result. He played through the injury against the Pelicans on Wednesday but was clearly limited, settling for more jump shots than usual and not being as aggressive. The Clippers also played without Darius Garland in that game, though he is expected to be available against the Mavericks. Bennedict Mathurin will remain out for the Clippers' three-game road trip due to a toe injury.

  • Leonard sprained his ankle against the Sacramento Kings last week.
  • Leonard played through the ankle injury against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
  • The Clippers will face the Mavericks on Saturday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward who is dealing with an ankle injury.

Darius Garland

The Clippers' guard who sat out the game against the Pelicans for precautionary reasons but is expected to play against the Mavericks.

Bennedict Mathurin

The Clippers' player who will remain out for the team's three-game road trip due to a toe injury.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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