The Clippers were delivered a big blow to their lineup before the NBA season has begun.

Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined to start the upcoming season, according to an ESPN report on Thursday. The six-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP will be out for an “indefinite period of time” as he continues to rehab and recover from knee inflammation.

Earlier this week, the Clippers ruled out Leonard for the rest of the preseason and said they were uncertain whether he would play in their regular-season opener on Oct. 23. He didn’t appear in a preseason game this year and also didn’t participate in contact drills during training camp.

The knee inflammation limited Leonard, 33, to just two games in the the Clippers’ six-game first-round playoff series loss to the Mavericks last summer. He also missed the final eight games of the 2023-24 regular season.

Leonard had surgeries to repair meniscus and ACL injuries, and the latter procedure caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.

He recently told reporters that dealing with the inflammation for the rest of his career was a possibility.

Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein suffered a small, nondisplaced fracture in his left hand and will be re-evaluated in five to six weeks. The 7-foot lefty suffered the injury on Tuesday.

NFL: Saints WR/KR Rashid Shaheed had season-ending knee surgery. The All-Pro returner led the league with 15.9 yards per punt return. ... The Titans released S Jamal Adams. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler requested the moved. ... The Browns will relocate the team to Brook Park (Ohio) despite Cleveland’s efforts to keep the stadium on its lakefront.

NHL: The Stars signed No. 1 goaltender Jake Oettinger, 25, to an eight-year extension through the 2032-33 season. The deal is worth $66 million.