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The Toronto Raptors may have a bit of a problem heading into the NBA Finals, as Danny Green said the team's superstar, Kawhi Leonard, has been dealing with a knee issue:
Listing off team injuries, Danny Green mentioned that Leonard's been dealing with a knee issue. We knew Kawhi's leg was bothering him, but I think this is the first time anybody's mentioned the knee specifically.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 27, 2019
Leonard was seen favoring his right leg in Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks and in other moments in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the All-Star forward has downplayed the concerns about his health. He seemed to erase any doubt of him being bothered by his leg when he led the Raptors to four straight wins against the Bucks.
The Raptors will now face the Golden State Warriors, a team that has won the last two championships. Leonard will need to be at full strength if they want to have a chance of beating the Dubs. It is also worth noting that the last time Kawhi faced Golden State in the playoffs, he suffered an injury that knocked him out of the series.
However, Leonard has been resilient throughout these playoffs, playing some of the best basketball of his career. He has carried the team to the Finals, and he'll have to put the team on his back against the mighty Warriors.
Game 1 of the Finals will be on Thursday in Toronto, which means that Leonard will still have more time to rest his knee. A few more days to recover from what was a tiring run through the Eastern Conference will definitely help the former Finals MVP.