No back-to-back games for Leonard, coach says | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

No back-to-back games for Leonard, coach says

No back-to-back games for Leonard, coach says

Field Level Media/Reuters

Clipboard

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (center) drives to the basket in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

If Toronto Raptors power forward Kawhi Leonard plays Sunday night in Los Angeles against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, don't expect him to play Monday night in Utah.

Not because of lingering soreness from the right quadriceps injury that plagued him last season, according to Leonard and Toronto coach Nick Nurse, but because they're looking longer-term.

One way to keep him fresh is not to play him on consecutive nights, Nurse said, adding, "I don't think we've decided how long that's gonna be yet. We're going game by game."

Leonard, 27, missed all but nine games last season, his last with the San Antonio Spurs, because of the injured quad.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I just wanted to get healthy. I feel healthy now, and they just don't want to rush into things. I don't either. It's a long season, so we're thinking about the long road," Leonard said Friday night after the Raptors ran their record to 8-1 with a 107-98 win in Phoenix.

Leonard, twice the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, left Friday night's game with a jammed foot, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. In seven games, he's averaging 26.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 34 minutes per game.

Leonard said the injury wasn't serious, although the team listed him as questionable to face the Lakers. In that scenario, he would play Monday, according to Nurse.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.