Popovich says Kawhi unlikely to play in Game 4
If the San Antonio Spurs are to stave off elimination against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, they'll probably have to do so without Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard remains sidelined with a left ankle sprain, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't anticipate he'll be ready for Game 4, saying the All-NBA forward is "likely out" for Monday's contest.
Popovich, who'd said sitting Leonard in Game 3 was his call, told reporters "it wouldn't make much sense" to play him in Game 4, according to Melissa Rohlin of the San Antonio Express-News.
"If he's unable to play yesterday, I don't think there's going to be a miraculous healing by tomorrow," he explained.
Leonard has not taken the floor since re-aggravating the injury when he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot in the third quarter of Game 1, and the Spurs have looked completely overmatched without him, dropping Games 2 and 3 by a combined 48 points.
The Spurs are also starting to resemble a skeleton crew, with Tony Parker also out and David Lee likely joining them on the shelf.
"Circumstances are such that we could be in a totally different position right now," Popovich said. "That didn't happen. It's called life."