Los Angeles Clippers star small forward Kawhi Leonard will play on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He didn't play on Thursday versus the Sacramento Kings because of lower back tightness, a game the Clippers lost at home:

The Clippers are 33-15 on the season. They have the third best record in the Western Conference.

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Leonard has appeared in 36 games this season for the Clippers. He’s averaging 27.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 88.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Kawhi and the Clippers are already 2-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Leonard has dominated Lakers superstar LeBron James in the first two matchups this season. The 2014 and 2019 Finals MVP is averaging 32.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists versus the Lakers while shooting 55.3 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from beyond the arc and 94.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Leonard and Paul George had a close relationship with Kobe Bryant. It’s not a stretch to say Leonard and George are going to dedicate the rest of this season to Kobe.

Even though Kawhi and PG are playing for the Clippers and not the Lakers, they are still California kids at heart who want to play the right way and honor Bryant.