Leonard is questionable for Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets due to an illness and a lingering left knee contusion.
The Los Angeles Clippers (20-24) were expected to cruise past the Brooklyn Nets (12-31) on Sunday night, but their injury report has fans worried once again about their star forward's health.
Los Angeles beat the crosstown rival Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 on Thursday night in what was one of their biggest wins of the season, and they'll look to keep their momentum going when they host Brooklyn at Intuit Dome.
Leonard Battles Illness After Lakers Return
Leonard had missed three straight games due to a left knee contusion before returning against the Lakers on Thursday, and he didn't look like someone who had been sidelined for a week.
He finished with 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists in just 26 minutes of action as the Clippers held on for the win despite a furious fourth-quarter rally from James Harden and LeBron James.
However, Leonard missed Saturday's practice due to an illness and is now listed as questionable with both the knee contusion and the undisclosed illness.
The two-time Finals MVP has been playing at an elite level this season when healthy, averaging 28.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and leading the league in steals with 2.2 per game.
The Clippers are 4-9 in games that Leonard has missed this season and 16-15 when he plays, so his availability against the Nets matters more than the opponent's record might suggest.
Changes From the Last Meeting
This is the second meeting between these two teams this season, and the first one wasn't close.
The Clippers beat the Nets 121-105 in Brooklyn on January 9th behind strong performances from both Harden (31 points on 10-of-13 shooting) and Leonard (26 points).
The Clippers held the Nets to just 47 points in the first half and never looked back.
Since that game, the Clippers have continued their hot streak by winning eight of their last ten games to climb back into playoff contention after a brutal 6-21 start to the season.
The recent run of success has been fueled by Leonard playing at an MVP level along with improved defense and contributions from young players like Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.
The Nets have gone the opposite direction and lost nine of their last ten games while falling to 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Full Injury Report
Joining Leonard on the Clippers' injury report is Bogdan Bogdanovic, who remains out due to left hamstring injury management and has been sidelined since late December.
Derrick Jones Jr. is also out with a right knee sprain that will keep him sidelined for several more weeks, while Bradley Beal is done for the season after undergoing hip surgery.
The Nets have their own problems with Cam Thomas out due to a left ankle sprain and rookie Nolan Traore sidelined with an illness.
Versatile forward Noah Clowney is doubtful with back soreness.
Can the Clippers Win Without Leonard?
If Leonard is unable to go on Sunday night, rookie Kobe Sanders will likely get the start again after stepping up nicely during Leonard's recent absences.
Harden has been carrying a massive load this season with a 33.5 percent usage rate while averaging 36 minutes per game, so having Leonard back would give the veteran guard some much-needed relief.
The good news is that the Nets are struggling badly and have lost their last four games while sitting at just 12-31 on the season.
The Clippers should be heavy favorites regardless of whether Leonard is active, but losing him would certainly make things more interesting.
Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at Intuit Dome.