Kawhi Leonard is back with the Raptors, but his return to the floor is still on hold.
According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, Leonard is with the team in Toronto and getting treatment, though he has not been cleared for on-court work yet. Toronto said Tuesday that Leonard had successfully completely completed his treatment and was set to start his return-to-play process. Earlier reporting had pointed to a multi-week absence because of swelling in his left knee.
Leonard has appeared in only two games in his second stint with the Raptors, and his most recent action came on October 23.
There’s also a fresh batch of injury news around the league.
Lakers star Luka Doncic will sit out Sunday’s game in Detroit because of tightness in his lower back, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Los Angeles is on the first night of a back-to-back, and McMenamin noted that Doncic was also held out in a similar spot when he missed his first game of the season on Oct.
- He had originally been listed as questionable for the matchup.
In Chicago, veteran center Nic Claxton is set to make his season debut against Philadelphia, Bulls coach Tiago Splitter told reporters, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. Claxton has been working back from a hamstring strain and will come off the bench in his first game with the Bulls.
Lorenzi reported that he’ll be limited to roughly 16-to-20 minutes. Chicago will also be without Norman Powell, who has right shoulder inflammation/soreness, Zach Collins because of a respiratory illness, and Dailyn Swain due to right disc irritation.
Washington got a scare on Saturday when Deandre Ayton left in the second quarter of the Wizards’ blowout loss to Oklahoma City with a lower leg injury. The team announced that he was ruled out for the rest of the game, and it remains unclear whether the injury will cost him more time. Ayton is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
In Other News...
Bulls Suddenly Face A Real Lineup Decision They Cant Avoid
Nic Claxtons return is giving the Bulls something they have not had much of yet this season: a real frontcourt choice. After missing time with a preseason left hamstring strain, Claxton is back on the verge of debuting with a minutes restriction, and coach Tiago Splitter is already talking about trying different combinations to see what fits best. For a team still sorting through a difficult start, even a healthy big man can change the conversation quickly.
The most interesting part is where Claxton fits once he is available. Splitter wants to look at lineups with Claxton and Jalen Smith together, which could alter the rotation and force some tough decisions elsewhere on the roster. With trade chatter already hanging over the Bulls as they search for answers, this is no longer just about getting Claxton on the floor. It is about how much the team is willing to reshape around him. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylin Sellers Is Giving The Bulls A Contract Decision To Make
The Windy City Bulls opened their G League regular season with a pair of home wins, and the early buzz has centered on two names in particular. Dailyn Swain made a strong debut with 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Jaylin Sellers followed with a performance that showed why he has started to turn heads as more than just a developmental piece.
Sellers has looked comfortable both as a scorer and as a creator, knocking down shots from deep while also setting up teammates in the flow of the offense. For the Bulls, that kind of two-way production only adds to the intrigue around what comes next, because his play is making the front office think carefully about how much longer they can keep him in this role. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Face Two Rotation Questions Against Philly
Chicago heads into its matchup with Philadelphia still sorting through the ripple effects of a crowded injury report, and the timing could hardly be worse. The Bulls are trying to piece together a rotation while getting Nic Claxton ready for his debut after a hamstring injury, with Jalen Smith also listed as probable despite a finger issue. Zach Collins and Dailyn Swain have already been ruled out, leaving the frontcourt and the bench thinner than usual.
Norman Powells status is another layer of uncertainty after he was added to the report with a sore right shoulder, while Tobe Awaka is also questionable with an MCL sprain. For a team trying to stabilize its minutes against the 76ers, the Bulls may not know until closer to tipoff how much flexibility they actually have, and that leaves plenty of room for the rotation to shift once the game starts. [Read more 🡒]