The Los Angeles Clippers are planning to have star forward Kawhi Leonard return to action in Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, and the struggling franchise desperately needs his presence to help reverse their fortunes after a difficult start to the 2025-26 season.

Leonard has been sidelined since November 3 due to an ankle and foot sprain, missing 10 consecutive games while watching his team stumble to a 1-9 record in his absence.

The six-time All-Star was playing at an elite level before the injury struck, averaging 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game through the first six contests of the season while showing he still had plenty left in the tank at 34 years old.

Clippers Struggling Without Their Star

The Clippers enter Sunday's matchup with a disappointing 5-11 record, sitting 12th in the Western Conference and far below the expectations they had coming into the season with a preseason over-under win total of 49.5 games on most outlets.

They snapped a three-game losing streak with Saturday's 131-116 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, fueled by James Harden's franchise-record 55 points, but the overall body of work has been concerning for a team that hoped to contend for a playoff spot.

Head coach Tyronn Lue addressed Leonard's recovery progress earlier in the week, saying he didn't know exactly how long the recovery would take but that his star forward had "definitely gotten better" and was making positive strides toward returning to the court.

The timing couldn't be better for Los Angeles, which has struggled on both ends of the floor and ranks 24th in net rating at -6.3 entering the weekend.

What Leonard Brings Back

Leonard's return should provide an immediate boost to a Clippers squad that has been missing his two-way excellence and veteran leadership during this crucial stretch of games.

His ability to create his own shot, defend multiple positions, and take over games in crunch time makes him irreplaceable for a team trying to claw its way back into the playoff picture in a competitive Western Conference where every game matters.

The Clippers will face a tough test against an 11-6 Cavaliers team that sits second in the Central Division and has been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference this season, making Sunday's contest a measuring-stick game for Los Angeles to see where they stand with their superstar back in the lineup.

Cleveland features a balanced attack led by Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.

Path Forward for LA

With Leonard expected back and Harden playing some of his best basketball since his Houston Rockets days while averaging 28.4 points per game this season, the Clippers have the talent to turn things around if they can stay healthy and find some defensive consistency.

The question now becomes whether they can build momentum from this moment and climb back into playoff contention, or if the slow start will prove too difficult to overcome in what has already been a challenging campaign for the franchise.