Seven-and-a-half months ago, Kawhi Leonard suffered a torn ACL during the Los Angeles Clippers' second-round series against the Utah Jazz.

Leonard has been sidelined ever since, but many Clippers fans have been holding out hope that the two-time NBA champion could return late in the season. However, according to Clippers head coach Ty Lue, that seems unlikely. 

"We know Kawhi's probably not gonna come back," Lue said on Friday, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "We don't know the status of PG, but these guys continue to keep fighting. Every single night."

When asked about this comment, Lue responded: "I don't know. I'm not a doctor. But hope is stronger than fear. So I'm hoping that these two guys can come back. But you never know."

Paul George is also out after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his shooting elbow. George, who has appeared in only 26 games, will be re-evaluated after undergoing an MRI on Feb. 24.

Despite missing their two best players, the Clippers are 27-27, which is the eighth-best record in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has the NBA's sixth-best defense, allowing just 105.5 points per 100 possessions. However, they have struggled on the other end, posting the NBA's fifth-worst offense.