NBA: Leonard to return for Spurs

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to the loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 12, 2017 in New York City. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard will make his season debut when the San Antonio Spurs take on the Dallas Mavericks later Tuesday, coach Gregg Popovich confirmed.

Leonard has not played for the Spurs since game one of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors, when he suffered a sprained ankle.

The 26-year-old has since been sidelined with quadriceps tendinopathy.

Leonard is likely to be eased back into the fray, with his on-court time carefully monitored.

“Kawhi is back tonight,” Popovich told ESPN. “Any team would like to have one of their best players back. That’s fairly logical.”

San Antonio are third in the Western Conference on 19-8, behind leaders Houston and the second-place Warriors.

© Agence France-Presse