Clippers Championship Odds Fall to +950 as Kawhi Leonard Out Indefinitely After Suffering Knee Injury in Game 4 vs Jazz

• Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely following a knee injury in Game 4 against the Jazz
• The Clippers’ title odds have plummeted following the news with Kawhi confirmed as out for Game 5
• Is there value backing the Clippers?

First it was Chris Paul and healthy and safety protocols. Then, it was Kawhi Leonard’s knee.

Wednesday was a big day for NBA news, and it’s changed the shape of the playoffs. The NBA Championship odds look very different following these two bombshells, with the Clippers slipping all the way to +950 at FanDuel.

The Clippers head into Game 5 sitting 2-2 with the Utah Jazz in the second round. While this series was in the balance, they were considered a serious title challenger. If Leonard is out for the rest of the playoffs, they are a long way from contention.

2021 NBA Championship Odds

Odds as of June 16th

Clips Lose Kawhi

With just hours until Game 5, the news broke that Kawhi Leonard was out. Brian Windhorst reported that Leonard’s availability for the rest of the series is in doubt, too. Given that Game 6 is scheduled to be played on Friday, it’s hard to envisage Leonard returning in time.

Leonard has suffered a knee sprain. This is the same injury Anthony Davis was dealing with in the first round of the playoffs. Davis was unable to play in Game 5, and tried to return a couple of days later for Game 6, but was unable to stay on the court for longer than five minutes.

Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss Game 5 against the Jazz tonight with a knee injury suffered in game 4, sources tell @ramonashelburne & me. His status for rest of series is in doubt as well.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) June 16, 2021

Already underdogs for Game 5, the Clips need a spectacular performance from Paul George on the road to take a series lead. If Leonard is out for the series, the pressure on George is enormous. He will need help too, especially from Marcus Morris, who broke out of a slump in Game 4.

The Klaw’s Injury Woes

Leonard’s career has been blighted by injuries. It is remarkable he has remained one of the top five players in the league while so often managing pain. A two-time Finals MVP, Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to a title just a couple of years ago, with his workload being carefully managed even in the highest stakes playoff games.

List of players who have battled injuries in this year’s playoffs:

– Kawhi Leonard
– LeBron James
– Anthony Davis
– Kyrie Irving
– James Harden
– Chris Paul
– Joel Embiid
+ more

Injuries suck

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 16, 2021

Perhaps this is a sign that Leonard will bounce back. More reasonably, though, this suggests that it takes something pretty serious for Leonard to miss a postseason game, and particularly a pivotal Game 5 like the Clippers face on Wednesday. This is a man who has played through pain, who has become used to walking the tightrope of injury management. He thrives when the lights are brightest.

If Kawhi misses time and it looks like CP3 will too, that would make NINE All stars who’ve missed a postseason gm this season. Most in NBA history. Smh. Unreal.

— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) June 16, 2021

Leonard’s injury history doesn’t suggest he will be back any time soon. Knee sprains are not an issue that can just be played through, as was shown by Davis just a couple of weeks ago.

Look Elsewhere

The Clippers have been in a hard fought series even with Leonard on the court. Losing his go-to scoring ability and defense on Donovan Mitchell is a brutal blow. While George has put in some good performances in these playoffs, he needs to produce something historic if the Clippers are to reach the next round.

Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss tonight’s Game 5 against Utah with a right knee injury.

Leonard has 5 games this postseason with 25 pts/65% FG pct.

Only Kareem (1980) and Shaq (1998) have more such games in one postseason in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55). pic.twitter.com/3gV6HcodfK

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 16, 2021

This was a well-matched series with Leonard available. Without him, the Jazz will like their chances of winning it in six. Should George, accompanied by hot shooting from his teammates, lead the Clippers to their first Conference Finals, they would potentially get a chance at the Suns without Chris Paul.

There is a path to the Clippers making the Finals, but it requires George to play the best basketball of his career over a prolonged period.

On the marginal chance that Leonard can return in a week or so, some will be tempted by the +950 price for the Clips to win the title. Those odds aren’t long enough, though. Even if it was guaranteed Kawhi could return for the Finals, this wouldn’t be a good price. This injury has probably forced the Clippers into yet another second round exit.