Kawhi Leonard is out for at least a week with discomfort in his left knee.
The 15-year veteran was warming up before the Raptors' blowout loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves and was a late scratch with knee swelling.
Leonard played two of the Raptors' five pre-season games for a total of 39 minutes in what was described as a ramp-up strategy after being kept out of live scrimmage during the first week of training camp. He missed the first two pre-season games, played the third and fourth and sat out the fifth.
The Raptors said in a media release that an MRI determined there was no structural damage and he will be re-evaluated in a week, which suggests he will miss at least the Raptors' next four games — two at home against the Orlando Magic and away in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers on Nov. 1 and 2.
In two regular season games, Leonard played just 24 and 27 minutes, continuing the ramp-up process. He struggled offensively, converting just 12-of-37 field goal attempts and failing to finish on multiple transition opportunities at the rim.
Leonard said he'd be "returning soon" in a social-media post.
"... It's always frustrating missing time," he wrote. "I came back to compete with this team and I'm focused on getting back to 100."
It’s just the fifth time in eight seasons Leonard has shot less than 36 per cent from the floor over two consecutive games and the first time in the first two games of the regular season.
Leonard turned 35 on June 29 and signed a two-year, $115-million contract extension with the Raptors that is guaranteed through the 2028-29 season. He is earning $50.3 million in the final year of his current deal.
The Raptors acquired Leonard in a deal that saw Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick go to the Clippers, along with a 2027 first-round pick swap, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and two second-round picks.
Leonard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career as he averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game on the best efficiency of his career. He played 65 games and was named second-team all-NBA, the seventh time he’s earned all-NBA recognition.
Leonard has struggled with injuries throughout his career, missing 44 per cent of his team’s games over the past nine seasons.
