Category: NBA
Kawhi Leonard is out at least a week with swelling in his left knee, and the real timeline looks like weeks. That puts his only trip back to face the Clippers in doubt and raises early questions about Toronto’s $115 million bet.
Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a mild strain of his left hamstring, and the Indiana Pacers now list their star point guard as week-to-week. Head coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday that a return within the next two weeks is not realistic.
Minnesota’s star will undergo a procedure on his right knee Thursday, one night after scoring 47 points in an overtime loss at Cleveland. A long layoff would put MVP and All-NBA honors out of reach, and with them his route to a supermax extension.
Jaren Jackson Jr. tore the MCL in his right knee during Monday’s loss to Memphis, and the Utah Jazz said Tuesday that his next evaluation will come in six weeks. Lauri Markkanen came away with a sprained right wrist and is listed as day-to-day.
Jalen Williams has a broken left fibula and a dislocated left ankle and will need surgery, Thunder GM Sam Presti said Monday. Cason Wallace also faces an operation on a torn labrum.
Oklahoma City came back from a halftime deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101 on Sunday and stay unbeaten. The win was overshadowed by a lower-left-leg injury to Jalen Williams and two other Thunder players leaving hurt.
An MRI confirmed a low-grade right high ankle sprain for Paolo Banchero, and reports put the usual recovery at four to six weeks. Orlando is 0-2 and now heads on the road without its leading scorer.
Houston won a four-point game on the road one night after beating Dallas, leaving San Antonio still searching for its first win.
Philadelphia rallied from a deep first-half hole to beat Cleveland on Thursday night. The win moved the Sixers to 2-0 and second place in the Eastern Conference.
Playing without Kon Knueppel and Coby White, the Charlotte Hornets beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-103 on Wednesday behind Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Dennis Schroder. The win showed Charlotte can lean on its depth and its rebounding while two key guards heal.
