Kawhi Leonard’s return to the court will have to wait longer. Although it seemed the forward could be back in action this week, the Toronto Raptors have confirmed that he will need more time to continue recovering from inflammation in his knee, and he will remain sidelined for at least another week.
Kawhi was only able to take part in the first two regular-season games before these issues began, forcing him to step away from the floor and undergo treatment that, according to the franchise, has proven successful. If he returns within seven days, his recovery would wrap up three and a half weeks after his last game, meeting the initial window of between three and four weeks.
Without Leonard, the Raptors have posted a 3-5 record that has prevented them from taking off, although, with the two wins secured in his presence, they remain in sixth place in the East. However, facing tougher opponents makes it clear that the team still has limitations in stationary offense, limitations that the former Clippers star should help address as he did in his first two outings.
In those, he needed only 26 minutes on the floor to average 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, and while his shooting percentages were not ideal, his mere presence helps create opportunities for the rest. And that is precisely why the Raptors are counting the days to have him back in their lineup.
