A bloodied Kawhi Leonard was forced from the LA Clippers‘ game against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter Friday night after a collision with a teammate left him needing eight stitches to treat a mouth laceration.
Serge Ibaka was going up for a defensive rebound when his elbow collided with Leonard’s mouth, sending the Clippers’ All-Star forward immediately to the floor. Leonard bled profusely from his mouth as he was treated on the floor before he was helped back to the locker room with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Without Leonard, the Clippers got a little revenge by holding on to a big lead in the second half and beating the Nuggets 121-108 in Denver. The Nuggets had previously defeated the Clippers in the second round of the playoffs last season after L.A. blew a 3-1 series lead.
Leonard departed Friday’s game with the Clippers up 108-97. He had 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals in 30 minutes.
“I didn’t even see it,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said after the game while Leonard was being evaluated. “… He’s going to be fine. He got up and walked off the floor so he’s good.”
