The Los Angeles Clippers face an uphill battle in trying to reach the 2021 NBA Finals. After beating the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, L.A. trails 2-1 in the series and is still without its best player.

Kawhi Leonard has missed the entire series and five straight games total with a knee injury. The Clippers have been tightlipped about Leonard’s status, only announcing his availability for each contest on a game-by-game basis. The latest rumors suggest that Leonard won’t play against Phoenix, no matter how long the series goes.

“He’s out tonight, that’s the only thing I know,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters when asked Leonard shortly before the team’s 106-92 Game 3 victory Thursday.

When Leonard got hurt in the second round, it was reported that Los Angeles feared the two-time NBA Finals MVP suffered an ACL injury. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said before Game 2 there wasn’t confidence that Leonard would return before the NBA Finals.

Leonard leads the Clippers with 30.4 points per game on 57.3% shooting this postseason.

Without Leonard, the Clippers won two straight games against the Utah Jazz to punch their ticket to the conference finals. Los Angeles opened the series with two straight losses in Phoenix.

The Clippers overcame a 2-0 deficit in both the first and second round of the playoffs. The betting odds suggest that Los Angeles won’t be able to do it a third time.

The Suns are overwhelming -420 favorites to win the series, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Clippers have +330 odds to pull off the upset.

Phoenix was also without its best player for the first two games. Chris Paul was sidelined in the league’s health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19. Paul returned in Game 3, scoring 15 points on 5-19 shooting in the loss.

Paul George leads the Clippers with 29.0 points per game against Phoenix. George has raised his performance in Leonard’s absence, averaging 30.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists per contest.

George missed two key free throws down the stretch of Game 2 that could’ve iced a victory for Los Angeles.

Kawhi Leonard LA Clippers
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus