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Kawhi Leonard's Clippers to play pre-season game in Vancouver

A week after he left the Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard's new team, the Los Angeles Clippers, is scheduled for a Oct. 17 pre-season game in Vancouver as part of the NBA's annual Canada Series.

Ex-Raptors' star not yet confirmed for Oct. 17 tilt as part of annual Canada Series

The Canadian Press ·
Kawhi Leonard's new Clippers teammates will head north to Vancouver for an exhibition game against Dallas on Oct. 17 as part of the NBA's annual Canada Series. It's not yet known if the former Raptors' star forward will make the trip north. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

A week after he left the Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard's new team is scheduled for a pre-season trip to Canada.

The NBA announced Tuesday that the Los Angeles Clippers will travel to Vancouver for an Oct. 17 exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks as part of the league's annual "Canada Series."

Leonard led the Raptors to a championship in his only season in Toronto before leaving for his hometown Clippers in free agency.

Whether or not Leonard makes the trip back north of the border in October is far from a slam dunk. He missed 22 regular-season games in 2018-19 as part of Toronto's now famous "load management" strategy to ease him back into action after he played just nine games with San Antonio the previous season due to a quad injury.

After Toronto's gruelling championship playoff run, it wouldn't be surprising if the Clippers let him sit the Vancouver game out.

WATCH | Leonard's ridiculous buzzer beater sends Raptors to East Final:

Leonard's ridiculous buzzer-beater sends Raptors to Eastern finals

6 years ago
Duration 1:23
Kawhi Leonard poured in 41 points, including a dramatic game-winner as the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 92-90 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Star power on both sides

The game will be the fifth pre-season contest Vancouver has hosted.

Outside of Leonard, both teams boast plenty of star power. The Clippers also acquired MVP finalist Paul George in a trade, and have a core that includes three-time sixth man of the year Lou Williams.

The up-and-coming Mavericks have a roster that includes rising superstar Luka Doncic and seven-foot-three big man Kristaps Porzingis.

Both teams also have Canadian content, with veteran forward Dwight Powell of Toronto on the Mavericks' roster and rookie forward Mfiondu Kabengele of Burlington, Ont., with the Clippers.

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