2 min read • December 06, 2022
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Star forward Kawhi Leonard made an immediate impact in his first game back from a six-game ankle sprain when he knocked in the game-winning jumper on Monday night.
Leonard, who scored 16 points in 28 minutes, has played only six games this season while he takes a gradual approach to his ACL recovery, and should continue to improve as he regains leg strength and lateral quickness.
Paul George also returned on Monday after missing seven games with a hamstring strain and continued his efficient start, posting 19 points and seven assists on 8-15 shooting.
The Clippers are now 5-1 this season when Leonard plays and 14-11 overall and will face the Magic and Heat in a back-to-back this week that Leonard and George will each likely sit at least one half of.
The .500 76ers survived their spell of uneven footing and have Joel Embiid and James Harden back as of Monday night’s loss to the Rockets.
Harden scored 21 points with seven assists on 4-19 shooting and De’Anthony Melton stuck in the starting lineup, posting nine points, eight rebounds, and six assists in 40 minutes.
Shake Milton and Danuel House Jr. will likely continue to reap the benefits of Tyrese Maxey’s leftover shots until the dynamic third-year guard is recovered from his left foot fracture.
Amidst the reported disconnect between Trae Young and Nate McMillan over Young’s shoulder soreness, the Hawks saw starting forwards De’Andre Hunter and John Collins suffer hip and ankle injuries, respectively.
Hunter will be re-evaluated this Thursday while Collins will miss at least another five games for 13-11 Atlanta, who will face the Knicks on Wednesday, the Nets on Friday – both on the road – and the Bulls in Atlanta on Sunday.
Rookie AJ Griffin has been impressive in spot starts and will likely see a short-term increase in minutes and shot attempts.
Standout Pacers’ point guard Tyrese Haliburton missed their back-to-back on Sunday and Monday after he suffered a groin injury on Friday.
Indiana, also without Chris Duarte and Myles Turner, faces the Wolves on Wednesday, Wizards on Friday, and Nets on Saturday and have not announced a return timeline for Haliburton.
Bradley Beal will reportedly miss at least a week with a hamstring strain for the Wizards, who are 1-6 in their last seven games after a strong 10-7 start.
Kyle Kuzma has averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 45.9% shooting and Kristaps Porzingis has been equally impressive, scoring 21.8 points with 8.8 rebounds on 46.8% from the field and 35.6% from three.
The Orlando Magic, 5-20, have the worst record in the NBA a quarter of the way through the season and injuries are at least partly to blame: Jalen Suggs, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Harris, and Chuma Okeke all remained out on Monday with lingering issues.
Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz, and Cole Anthony each returned recently from extended absences and one of the few beneficiaries has been Bol Bol, who has scored 13.7 points with 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on .602/.415/.780 shooting splits in 19 straight starts entering Monday.
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