Why Kawhi Leonard isn’t playing tonight for Clippers vs. Suns with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Clippers are playing in the only game of the NBA’s schedule Thursday night when they take on the Phoenix Suns.

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They just won’t be at full strength for the Western Conference showdown.

One of the absences is Kawhi Leonard.

The Clippers kept him out of action Tuesday, and he misses Thursday’s game, too.

Leonard has played six games so far this season and averaged 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

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Why isn’t Kawhi Leonard playing tonight?

Kawhi Leonard is out on Thursday night due to injury.

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He’s listed on the injury report with an ankle issue.

Given Leonard’s injury history, the Clippers will be hoping this is just a small nuisance that heals and doesn’t impact Leonard long term.

With Leonard out, the Clippers should give more minutes to John Collins and Nicolas Batum. Derrick Jones Jr. doesn’t put up much by way of statistics, but he’ll also get ample court time with Leonard out.

And with James Harden out, too, the shots will be available for others to take.

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