Suns update: Kawhi Leonard (knee) out Game 4 for Clippers, Cameron Payne (back) out

LOS ANGELES — Cameron Payne has been ruled out Game 4 Saturday against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena with low back soreness as he hasn't played in this Western Conference first-round series.

The Suns lead the series 2-1, with Game 5 set for Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Payne also missed Phoenix's final regular season game April 9 against the Clippers in Phoenix with low back soreness after taking a hard fall in the first half April 7 at the Lakers.

The Clippers will once again be without Kawhi Leonard for Game 4 as he missed Game 3 with a right knee sprain.

Leonard posted back-to-back 30-point games in Game 1 and Game 2. The Clippers took Game 1 behind Leonard's 38-point effort, but lost Game 2 despite him scoring 31.

Paul George is also ruled out Game 4 with a right knee sprain.

George hasn't played since March 21 when he injured his knee against Oklahoma City.

Payne played a key role in the Suns taking a 2-0 series lead on the Clippers in the 2021 conference finals, which Phoenix won in six. Payne scored a career playoff-high 29 points in Game 2 and posted nine assists in both games.

The nine assists are also a career playoff high for the reserve point guard, who is in the second of a three-year, $19-million contract.

Payne averaged 10.3 points this season in just 48 games as he had multiple foot injuries.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Clippers' Leonard (knee) out Game 4, Suns' Payne (back) out