Kawhi Leonard was expected to miss several weeks of action due to swelling in his left knee. The Raptors star forward appears to be progressing well, as the team provided a positive update on Tuesday.
Leonard has successfully completed treatment and will now begin a return to play process in Toronto, The Athletic’s Law Murray relays (Twitter link). His progress will be updated in one week. Leonard has appeared in just two games, most recently on Oct. 23.
Here’s more injury-related news:
- The Pacers used just six players on Monday against Atlanta due to injuries, illness or rest. They should be in better shape for Wednesday’s game against Memphis, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star reports. Starting center Ivica Zubac has been upgraded to questionable after missing the last five games with a left ankle sprain. Forward Obi Toppin, who has missed the last three games, is also questionable due to a lumbar sprain. Forward Kelly Oubre Jr is listed as questionable with a left calf contusion after he was scratched just before tip-off Monday. Four other players who missed Monday’s game are not on the injury report.
- The depleted Thunder had some rare good news on the injury front to report. Guard Alex Caruso is available to play against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, according to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. Caruso has missed three straight games due to a sprained right ankle.
- Sixers center Joel Embiid is not listed on the injury report for their game against Detroit on Wednesday. However, he’s dealing with right foot plantar fasciitis and has been placed on a minutes restriction. Embiid played 25 minutes against Chicago. “It’s been going on like that for the last few,” Embiid said, per Chris Hine of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “So yeah, it’s painful. Just got to manage it and when it flares up pretty bad, got to take a step back.”
- Mavericks big man Santi Aldama, acquired from Memphis in the offseason, could make his Dallas debut on Wednesday, Marc Stein of The Stein Line tweets. Aldama, who has been rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery since March, is listed as questionable to play against San Antonio.