07/14/2021, 12:46 AM

Diagnosed with partially torn ACL

The superstar forward missed the Clippers' last six playoff games -- including the entirety of the Western Conference Finals against the Suns -- due to what was previously diagnosed as a right knee sprain. There were rumblings that Leonard may be dealing with a more serious ACL injury, and those rumors have now been confirmed. The fact that the 30-year-old only suffered a partial tear means that he avoided the worst-case scenario, but the diagnosis certainly still leaves his status for next season in question. He currently does not have a timeline for a return.

06/29/2021, 6:35 PM

Makes big impact off bench

Cousins had been excluded from the rotation in both of the past two games, but the Clippers added the veteran big man back to the second unit after top center Ivica Zubac (knee) was surprisingly ruled out for Game 5. Efficiency has been an issue all season for Cousins between stops in Houston and LA, but he knocked down more than half his shots Monday while committing no turnovers and only one foul during his time on the court. Despite the solid showing off the bench, Cousins' usage in Wednesday's Game 6 may hinge on the availability of Zubac.

06/28/2021, 7:39 PM

Will play in Game 5

The Clippers initially listed Zubac as questionable with a sprained MCL in his right knee, but the team quickly clarified that the big man will play through the injury with the season on the line. It's unclear when, exactly, Zubac suffered the sprain, but he played a season-high 40 minutes in Saturday's Game 4, finishing with 13 points and 14 boards for his third consecutive double-double. Right now, there's been no indication that Zubac's workload will be limited, but how the knee holds up will be a major plot point to monitor throughout the night.