The Raptors got a encouraging update on Leonard on Tuesday, with the star forward moving one step closer to a return after dealing with swelling in his left knee.
Leonard has successfully completed treatment and will now begin a return to play process in Toronto, The Athletic’s Law Murray relays (Twitter link). His progress will be updated in one week.
Leonard has appeared in just two games, most recently on Oct. 23.
Elsewhere around the league, the Pacers may finally be getting some help back after having to survive Monday’s game against Atlanta with only six available players because of injuries, illness or rest. They should be in better shape for Wednesday’s matchup with Memphis, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star reports.
Starting center Ivica Zubac has been upgraded to questionable after missing the last five games with a left ankle sprain. Forward Obi Toppin, who has missed the last three games, is also questionable because of a lumbar sprain.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr is listed as questionable with a left calf contusion after being scratched just before tip-off Monday. Four other players who sat out Monday are not on the injury report.
The Thunder also received a bit of good news. Guard Alex Caruso is available to play against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, according to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. Caruso has missed the last three games with a sprained right ankle.
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid is not on the injury report for Wednesday’s game against Detroit, though the Sixers center is still managing right foot plantar fasciitis and remains on a minutes restriction. Embiid logged 25 minutes against Chicago, and he said the issue has been lingering.
“It’s been going on like that for the last few,” Embiid said, per Chris Hine of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “So yeah, it’s painful.
Just got to manage it and when it flares up pretty bad, got to take a step back.”
And in Dallas, big man Santi Aldama could be on the verge of making his Mavericks debut Wednesday against San Antonio. Marc Stein of The Stein Line tweets that Aldama, acquired from Memphis in the offseason, is listed as questionable after rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery since March.
In Other News...
Cavs Injury Absence Opened The Door For A Rookie Who Delivered
The Pacers were already thin enough to make one of those strange early-season nights feel even stranger, and their matchup with the Hawks turned into a grind with only six healthy players available. Jarace Walker shouldered the heaviest load, logging a team-high 45 minutes, while Rick Carlisle had little choice but to lean on whoever could stay on the floor and keep Indiana competitive.
For a roster stretched that far, every injury report around the league starts to matter a little more, especially when it helps explain why opportunities open up elsewhere. Clevelands wing situation has been part of that backdrop, with Peyton Watson sidelined by hamstring tightness, while Chicago center Nic Claxton is still working toward his season debut, reminders that the early weeks can reshape rotations as much as any trade or lineup change. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Have One Roster Decision That Could Steady A Shorthanded Team
With injuries already thinning the Pacers rotation, Indiana has a little breathing room to make one more move if it wants it. The team is eligible to fill its 15th and final roster spot, and with the seasons wear and tear already showing up, that opening has become more than just a formality. It is the kind of decision that can help steady a shorthanded group without forcing the front office into a long-term commitment.
Several veteran free agents are being weighed as possible fits, including Jemison, Kevin Love and Gabe Vincent, each bringing a different kind of experience to the table. Love would add frontcourt savvy, Vincent would give Indiana another guard option, and Jemison offers a more depth-oriented look as the Pacers try to patch together a workable bench. No signing has been made yet, but the fact that the final spot is still open suggests Indiana is at least considering a move that could matter sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Braden Smith Just Gave Pacers Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
Braden Smiths name is starting to pop in a way Pacers fans cant ignore, even in a roundup that featured a bunch of first-year NBA players making noise around the league. The first-year guard turned in one of the more eye-catching showings from the Nov. 2 slate, the kind of performance that reminds Indiana why his development is worth tracking closely as the season unfolds.
For a Pacers team always looking for young guards who can create, compete and hold up in real NBA minutes, Smiths early flashes matter because they come against the same rookie class that included both second-round finds and higher-profile draft picks. It is still early, of course, but nights like this give Indiana a little more reason to keep one eye on the rest of the league and another on what Smith might be able to become. [Read more 🡒]