Ben Golliver: Gregg Popovich says Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is out for Game 2 and questionable in advance of Game 3. “We won’t know until Friday or Saturday”
More on Kawhi Leonard Injury
Michael C. Wright: As expected, Jonathon Simmons gets the start in Kawhi's place tonight.
"The thing is, now I've seen all the stuff going around on social (media) and all the things people are saying, and a lot of it involves me," Bowen said. "Well, I used to hate it when people called me dirty. I thought it was unfair when people just piggyback on what other people say. And I still do."
"What was his intent?" Bowen said. "You can rewind something five times and convince yourself of anything. What I saw, he kept moving in that direction after he contested the shot. You know you have to let a player come down. He kept walking into that space, so, for me, that says more about the intent."
Bowen believes he knows how he would have been disciplined had he been reviewed for such a play. "I don't know what is going to happen to Zaza," Bowen said, "but if that had been me, I know what would have happened: suspension."
Shaq "Zaza Knew What He Was Doing" Kawhi Listed "Doubtful" For Game 2 |NBA Playoffs Game 1|
“It’s going to be tough,” Aldridge said of the loss of Leonard. “He’s our leading scorer and our go-to guy, but guys have to step up and try to take some of that load and try to be better out there. It’s about defense right now. We’ve got to play better defense and make less mistakes, and we’ll be good.”
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford told The Undefeated, “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have to play with who we have.”
“If you take an MVP candidate off of most teams, they’re going to struggle,” Warriors forward Draymond Green told The Undefeated. “The Spurs are one of those teams that still continues to stay in the game, they still make plays to give themselves a chance to win. They are one of the few teams in this league who can lose an MVP candidate and it’s business as usual.”
Jorge Sierra: We reached out to a bunch of NBA players for their take on the Pachulia-Leonard play. This is what they answered…
"My approach to this game for 14 years that I've been in the league is to play hard and [give] 100 percent of whatever I have," Pachulia said in response to Popovich on Monday after practice. "So, I don't agree with the calls that I'm a dirty player. I'm not a dirty player. I love this game and I'm playing hard. That's what I was taught since Day 1."
Warriors center Zaza Pachulia sidestepped the controversy over his role in Kawhi Leonard’s injury Monday, after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich ripped Pachulia for the incident and called him a dirty player throughout his career. “No response,” Pachulia said after his team’s practice in Oakland. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Pop and their organization, and I mean it. No comment and no response. Let’s focus on Game 2, honestly.”
Jabari Young: Mike Brown on the Zaza incident... said Popovich comments just him protecting Kawhi #Spurs #Warriors pic.twitter.com/jWPDLO5myt
Later in his session with a group of reporters, Pachulia said, “I’m not a dirty player. I love this game and I play hard. I feel bad that it happened.”
Michael C. Wright: Maybe they're delusional, but sense I get from speaking w/sources is Spurs don't feel like all hope is lost. They plan to battle regardless.
Jabari Young: Zaza getting prepared...sure they are telling him what to expect after Popovich comments #Spurs #Warriors pic.twitter.com/Fi2citTB7p
Mike Finger: Pop: "This is crap. He has a history."
Fran Blinebury: More Pop: "Ask his Teammate David West what he thinks. They got into it last year."
A league source said that Leonard would undergo an MRI on Monday morning. When the forward originally suffered the injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, a source explained San Antonio’s philosophy for dealing with injuries, which dates all the way back to the early Tim Duncan years and provides something of a clue for how the Spurs might proceed with Leonard throughout this series.
The only strangeness witnessed was the fact that the training staff sat Leonard at a table and taped up the injured ankle after the game, before the forward pulled on a Spurs sweat suit and strolled out to the team bus. “I feel good,” Leonard said. “I’ll get back healthy. I have faith in my teammates, and we’re going to see what happens [in] Game 2.”
With 7:55 left in the third quarter, Pachulia switched out to defend Leonard who launched a 3-point shot from in front of the San Antonio bench. Pachulia continued moving forward while Leonard was airborne, an action that resulted in Leonard landing on Pachulia’s left foot and aggravating a sprained left ankle. “I just did what I was supposed to do and challenged his shot,” Pachulia said. “And I turned around and there was a call. I didn’t notice that he was down until I turned back. I didn’t see what happened there.”
Did Zaza Pachulia intentionally undercut Kawhi Leonard? @rodger_sherman Mark Cuban: No. That's not how ZaZa plays
Rudy Gobert: Never saw that move before
Ben Golliver: "I just did what I'm supposed to do: challenge the shot." Zaza Pachulia on Kawhi Leonard ankle injury
Tim Bontemps: Zaza Pachulia: "I hate anybody going down with an injury. I'm an athlete too ... I know how he feels. I hope it's nothing serious."
Marc J. Spears: Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard will have an MRI tonight on his left ankle, a team source said.
Michael C. Wright: Doubt he plays Game 2, but Kawhi didn't rule any thing out. Said "we'll see."
Mike Finger: Kawhi told me he does not think the Zaza play was dirty. Said he was just contesting the shot.
Connor Letourneau: "Zaza's not a dirty player. ... You can't listen to people on Twitter. People are irrational." -- Durant on the play Leonard got injured on
Adam Lauridsen: Popovich on Leonard: "He hurt the same foot. We'll see."
Michael C. Wright: Kawhi Leonard just walked to training room. No limp, nothing on ankle. They're taping it up now.
Adam Lauridsen: Manu on impact of Leonard injury: "Huge. We need Kawhi to create, to score."
Anthony Slater: After Kawhi Leonard injury, Warriors outscore Spurs by 25 in final 20 minutes to win Game 1: 113-111. Curry with 40, KD with 34.
Kawhi Leonard missed the Spurs' last game -- Game 6 against the Houston Rockets during the second round -- due to a sprained left ankle, but he was back in the lineup Sunday afternoon against the Warriors. Unfortunately, Leonard's return didn't last long, as he once again tweaked that ankle. In fact, he did it twice in the span of a few minutes in the third quarter against the Warriors in Game 1, and had to leave the game.
Connor Letourneau: So, the Leonard injury was a turning point. Warriors went on an 18-0 run after he headed to locker room.
Jeff McDonald: Leonard (sprained left ankle). Will not return, per Spurs
Ben Golliver: Spurs' Kawhi Leonard moving very gingerly and holding his head after three-pointer. Checks out at next dead ball.
Jeff McDonald: Kawhi's coming out again. Headed to the locker room. Can barely walk. Spurs are going to have to try and finish this without him.
Ailene Voisin: Kawhi Leonard limps into locker room. Leaves with 26 points, 8 boards, 3 assists - dominant performance. Would be a shame if he can't play.
CBS Sports: Dirty play by Zaza Pachulia or just an accident?
Jabari Young: Kawhi limping again… chart ankle… #Spurs
Paul Garcia: The Spurs have announced Kawhi Leonard (left ankle) is probable to play in Game 1. Coach Pop already said Kawhi will play though.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: There's strong optimism within the Spurs that Kawhi Leonard will be prepared to play Game 1 on Sunday vs. Golden State.
Marc J. Spears: Barring a Rockets miracle, Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to play in Game 1 of West Finals at Warriors on Sunday on four days rest.
Tim Bontemps: Gregg Popovich on if Kawhi fought him over sitting: "He'd rather play." Says Jonathon Simmons will start at small forward.
Throughout Game 5, Leonard also appeared to be nursing a sore right knee, as he returned to the bench on multiple occasions to have athletic trainers tend to the injured area.
Jabari Young: Kawhi Leonard (ankle) will not play tonight in Game 6 vs #Rockets ... #Spurs pic.twitter.com/68XbREjl4j
Jeff McDonald: Jonathon Simmons will start in Kawhi Leonard's spot.
Tom Orsborn: D'Antoni knows #Spurs would remain dangerous without Kawhi: "They've got a bunch of weapons. They beat us in OT without him."
Tim MacMahon: Pop calls Kawhi Leonard a game-time decision.
Fighting through an ankle injury, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard sat out much of the fourth quarter and didn't take the court for overtime of his team's 110-107 win over the Houston Rockets, but he insisted he'll play Thursday in Game 6. "Yeah, I'm going to be able to play," Leonard said. "It was frustrating because I wanted to play. But I was happy seeing my teammates out there putting in a good effort and getting the win."
Manu Ginobili replaced Leonard in the lineup with 4:57 to play, but Leonard re-entered the game with 2:59 remaining. Leonard left for good with 34.5 seconds remaining in regulation. "It was tough when we saw Kawhi kind of limping," Ginobili said. "We knew it was going to be a tough one. But they had it tough, too, and they're missing Nene, too. We really hustled down the stretch and made some good plays."
Manu Ginobili said he didn't even want to imagine his team having to play without Leonard in Game 6. He said he feared the injury was bad because Leonard was out down the stretch in such a critical game. But Leonard said he will definitely be on the court Thursday.
Kawhi Leonard rolled his ankle during Game 5 of the Spurs-Rockets series. Initially, the roll was so bad it appeared that he was going to be forced to come out of the game. However, because it's such an important game Leonard did his best to play through the injury. For the majority of the game he managed to do so, but he was forced to sit out the final play of regulation.
Melissa Rohlin: Pop said Kawhi has an ankle injury.
Chris Mannix: Gregg Popovich says he doesn't know Kawhi Leonard's status moving forward. Says it was obvious he couldn't go in overtime.
Kawhi Leonard (concussion protocol) is questionable for tomorrow night's Spurs-Hawks game. LaMarcus Aldridge, Dejounte Murray (left groin) and Tony Parker (back stiffness) remain out.
Popovich also said he was hopeful Leonard could return against Atlanta. “He is just moving through the protocol,” Popovich said. “We expect he will be fine, but it just takes awhile. The next possible game is Monday and we hope he will be ready for that.”
Popovich said Leonard is at “step two or three.” “They will tell me when he is ready,” Popovich said. “But he is doing fine so far.” Leonard was in the Spurs locker room before Saturday’s game. Asked by teammate Danny Green how he was doing, Leonard said, “I’m fine.”
Michael C. Wright: Pop said he's "hopeful" Kawhi Leonard can go on Monday. Said he's progressing through the protocol. Said he's on step 2 or 3.
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that forward Kawhi Leonard has entered the NBA’s Concussion Protocol. Leonard, who was hit in the head in last night’s Spurs-Thunder game, will not play in tomorrow night’s Spurs-Warriors contest. The team will provide updates on his return to the court as appropriate.
Paul Garcia: TNT reports Kawhi got hit in the head and he won't return.
Jeff McDonald: Spurs confirming Leonard got hit in the head. They don't think he suffered a concussion. We'll update after Pop talks.
Royce Young: Pop said Kawhi got hit in the face/mouth/cheek and the trainer thought he should sit. No additional update as to his status.
Jeff McDonald: Spurs listing Jonathon Simmons as the starter at SF in place of injured Kawhi Leonard. Dewayne Dedmon remains the starter at center.
Melissa Rohlin: Parker (foot) is probable, Leonard (hand) is questionable and Simmons (wrist) is doubtful vs Pelicans. Gasol (fractured metacarpal) is out.
However, when Popovich told reporters that Leonard had an injury that would heal quickly, he then corrected himself, jabbing Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway's now-infamous "alternative facts" quote. "Kawhi [Leonard] is out with an injury that’s not really an injury, but hopefully it will heal quickly," Popovich said . "That’s a figurative statement. It sounds like some of the things that are going on politically in the world. I apologize. I just gave an alternative fact. I shouldn’t have done that. But it wasn’t a lie, so don’t try to pin that on me. I’m tired of you guys pinning that on me."
Jeff McDonald: Pop says Kawhi Leonard will sit tonight with a sore hand. Just precautionary.
