San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich cut straight to the chase following Saturday's Game 3 loss and said his star forward Kawhi Leonard was “likely out” for Monday night's Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors, according to an ESPN report.
Leonard has been out of the series since the 7:52 mark of the third quarter of Game 1 after repeated injuries to his left ankle, which he first suffered in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.
The Spurs have struggled mightily without their leading scorer and primary all-around defender and are now on life support, hoping to hang on for a potential return to Oracle Arena in a Game 5.
The Warriors have put up an unrelenting 123 points per game throughout the first three games of the series, managing an undefeated 11-0 to start the playoffs, tying the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers as the only teams to rail off an 11-game win streak to start a postseason.
Leonard is officially listed as doubtful for the game. If he can't go, Jonathon Simmons will once again take his place, averaging 18 points per game as a starter through the last two games of the series.
San Antonio will need to find plenty of firepower to keep up with a high-octane Warriors offense that hasn't seemed to slow down for any team in this year's playoffs.
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