LA Clippers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (groin) will not play against Houston on Sunday. He's been ruled out for the game after Harden was initially handed a questionable tag. This will be the first absence of the season for Harden, who's been back in MVP form recently. Kevin Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland figure to receive an uptick in minutes without Harden, while top scorer Norman Powell should get even more usage on the offensive end.

According to ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk, Los Angeles Clippers guard/forwardNorman Powell(hamstring) will be unavailable Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After recently missing six games with a left hamstring strain, Powell has the night off for the second half of a back-to-back set. He scored 30 points one day ago in Tuesday's 127-105 victory over the Trail Blazers. Terance Mann(finger) andKevin Porter(back) will also be sidelined on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) will sit out Sunday's tilt against Denver. He hurt his left ankle in Friday's 93-92 loss to Minnesota. Porter Jr. scored a season-high 17 points and had three steals in Friday's contest. He's carved out a decent role on the Clippers squad, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 18.7 minutes. Norman Powell's (hamstring) return will help the Clippers cope with the loss of Porter Jr.'s scoring ability on Sunday, while Bones Hyland might join the rotation.

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Norman Powell (hamstring) will return to action on Sunday against Denver. He has finally recovered from a hamstring strain, which kept Powell sidelined for six games. The 31-year-old is off to a great start to the season and has even started to sneak into All-Star conversations. Powell has averaged 23.3 points with eye-popping 48.7 percent shooting from three-point range. His return will end Amir Coffey's spell as a starter. Coffey should still play an important role in the rotation but will have far less fantasy appeal coming off the bench.

According to Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue, forward Kawhi Leonard is "progressing well." However, the team will remain cautious while ensuring Leonard checks "every box" before moving on to the next step in his rehab process. Without a doubt, Leonard is one of the best players on the planet. Unfortunately, health issues have prevented him from reaching his max potential. With that in mind, it will likely be a while before the veteran is back on the floor. But he's still worth stashing as long as necessary.