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Om Youngmisuk, ESPN staff writer
DALLAS — The LA Clippers will try to survive their offseason Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard was officially ruled out in Game 6 on Friday in Dallas. The Clippers face the best-of-seven series against the Dallas Mavericks with a 3-2 elimination deficit.
Unlike the first-round series between the two teams in 2021, in which Leonard scored 45 points to help the Clippers stave off elimination in Game 6 in Dallas, LA didn't have its owners try to force a Game 7 this time.
The All-Star will miss his third straight game, playing limited minutes in Game 3, because of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee.
Guard Terrence MannA key role player for the Clippers was placed on the injury report as questionable with a lower right leg injury.
The Clippers suffered their worst postseason loss in franchise history, 123-93, without Leonard in Game 5 on Wednesday.
„We don't know when he'll be back,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said before Game 5. „It's a day-by-day thing, and when he's sick, if he tells the doctor he's clear, that's what we'll do.”
After missing the final eight regular season games and Game 1 of the series, Leonard returned and logged 35 minutes, scoring 15 points in Game 2. But Leonard said his knee didn't respond the way he had hoped. President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said Leonard experienced inflammation. The two-time Finals MVP logged 25 minutes and had nine points and nine rebounds, but clearly wasn't moving like his normal self in Game 3. Frank announced on Sunday that he would be out until Leonard made the same move as Game. 2 And his return is uncertain.
If the Clippers are in Dallas on Friday, Game 7 will be Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.