The Los Angeles Clippers are set to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in their play-in matchup Tuesday night. However, the Clippers' Monday night flight to Minnesota had a little extra room than they had hoped. Luke Kennard did not join his team on the postseason trip because of his recent hamstring injury.
ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk tweeted the update Tuesday afternoon.
Luke Kennard didn’t make the trip with the Clippers due to his sore hamstring.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) April 12, 2022
Kennard suffered the right hamstring injury in the Clippers' dominating 138-88 win over the Oklahoma Thunder on Sunday.
Article Continues BelowThis is a huge loss for Los Angeles, a team fighting for the best possible position in the postseason tournament. Kennard averaged 11.9 points, 2.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in the regular season. The shooting guard served as both a reliable bench piece and an occasional starter throughout the season. Expect starting shooting guard Marcus Morris to take the brunt of Kennard's absence Tuesday night.
If the Clippers lose, they will face the winner of the New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs play-in game. If they win that one, they will face off against the first seed Phoenix Suns, the most undesirable first-round opponent out there.
However, if Los Angeles wins their first play-in game, they automatically advance to the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. And, instead of facing the 64-18 Suns, they would take on the second seed Memphis Grizzlies.