Clippers' Kawhi Leonard to miss Game 1 vs. Mavs, timeline to return unclear

Leonard has been dealing with inflammation in his right knee and has not played since March 31. Lue didn't specify when he will return.

"I'm not sure," Lue said via Youngmisuk. "He's progressing. He's been on the floor the last couple of days. We're just taking it day by day."

This is a huge loss for the fourth-seeded Clippers, who have lost their last three regular-season games. Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 68 games and shot 52.5 percent from the field. 

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are one of the hottest teams in the league.

"The Mavericks are the lone lower seed my model favors thanks to their strong roster rating after adding starters Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline," wrote ESPN's Kevin Pelton. "With those newcomers in key roles, Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level and Kyrie Irving healthy, Dallas went 16-2 over its last 18 competitive games to move up from the play-in to the fifth seed."

With Leonard out of the lineup, fellow All-Star forward Paul George will have to carry the Clippers, which doesn't inspire confidence. This season, he struggled against Dallas, averaging 16.5 points and shooting 25 percent from beyond the arc in two games.

The Clippers beat the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in 2020 and 2021. However, with Leonard's status up in the air, it could set the stage for an upset. L.A. was eliminated from the postseason in 2021 and 2023 when he suffered knee injuries.