Kawhi sits out again in Game 3 vs. Warriors

Welp.

The San Antonio Spurs were once again without forward Kawhi Leonard for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Leonard, who re-aggravated his left ankle sprain in Game 1 of the series and also sat out Game 2, was hopeful that he'd be ready for Saturday's must-win after three days off between contests. He said he'd test the ankle before game time, but apparently couldn't get it to respond.

Leonard also suggested he would have the final say over whether he played in Game 3, but instead it was Popovich who made the call.

"In the end, I guess it's my decision," Popovich told reporters, according to Cayleigh Griffin on FOX Sports Southwest. "He's not thrilled that he's not playing, but he's not ready so we're not going to play him."

Leonard's teammates are still holding out some optimism that the guy who's been compared to a robot will upload some last-minute upgrades and swoop in to save the day.

"No Kawhi? There's still hope," said Spurs swingman Danny Green. "I mean I'm still gonna hope until tipoff that he might show up with a cape."

The Spurs were already facing an uphill climb, trailing the two-time defending West champs 2-0 in the series. Without Leonard, they're staring up at a mountain that makes Everest look like the bouldering wall at your local climbing gym. The're already without starting point guard Tony Parker, and have been outscored by 10.5 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs without Leonard on the floor. They blew a 23-point third-quarter lead in Game 1 after the reigning Defensive Player of the Year went down.

Popovich is pulling out all the stops as he tries to maintain morale and belief in his overmatched troops.

"I hired some soothsayers," he said, according to Melissa Rohlin of the San Antonio Express-News. "I channeled Rasputin."