team’s G League players on off days.

Leonard has missed the first 34 games of the season.

“We’ve got to get him all the days we can get him in, keep stacking the days, and see how he feels after that,” coach Tyronn Lue said before the trip.

Last season, Leonard played 68 of the Clippers’ first 74 games, resembling the top-10 player he was in previous seasons. He then missed their last eight regular-season games because of inflammation in his right knee.

Although he tried to come back during their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, his knee didn’t respond, and the Clippers were eliminated in six games.

This season, despite missing their two-time NBA Finals MVP, the Clippers are clinging to the No. 7 spot in the packed Western Conference standings with a 19-15 record with the No. 5 defense in the NBA (down from No. 4 before the two recent losses). Their offense, however, dipped to 24th in the league from 23rd.

Leonard, if 100 percent healthy, could make a difference on both sides of the ball.

LOFTY COMPARISON

Lue recently praised Leonard’s work ethic, comparing him to Lakers superstar and future Hall of Famer LeBron James on Draymond Green’s podcast.

“Both Kawhi Leonard and LeBron put in work every single day and grind every single day to get better,” Lue said. “They remind me a lot of each other when it comes to that work ethic and putting that work in to get where they want to get to.”

Lue realized that there are some who won’t see it that way, who view the oft-injured Leonard as the face of load management. The Clippers coach said the criticism has been unfair and Leonard wants to play.

“It’s just hard for the criticism that comes his way when I know I see him every day grinding in the weight room, grinding on the court every single day, and it’s just unfortunate that he can’t control what he has going on,” Lue said. “He’s not a guy that doesn’t care. He does care, and that’s what people don’t understand from the outside and it’s just tough.”