While many San Antonio Spurs fans are excited with the anticipated return of Kawhi Leonard on Thursday, veteran point guard Tony Parker said they should not expect the superstar to save the team’s playoff hopes. If Leonard returns on Thursday, he will have 14 games to save the Spurs sputtering season. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Leonard is set to meet with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich on Tuesday to decide if he will be able to return to playing.
If he returns, Leonard is expected to play on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic or Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, Parker tries to dampen expectations that Leonard can turn the team around. “It is what it is. We will try to do our best… Hopefully, when Kawhi comes back he can help us,” Parker said, adding that Leonard’s return will not be easy because he’s been out of action for two months. Currently, the Spurs (37-30) are in 10th place in the Western Conference. The Spurs have similar records with Denver and Utah but the Nuggets and Jazz are in 8th and 9th place, respectively, as they own tiebreakers over San Antonio. The Spurs dropped their third straight game after a 109-93 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Spurs taste first losing road record since 1996-17
The Spurs’ 104-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday left them with their first losing road record since the 1996-97 season and their streak of 20 straight playoff appearances is also under threat this season.
Since Popovich took over as head coach, the Spurs have tallied 18 straight campaigns with at least 50 victories. However, this streak is also in danger with just 15 games left in the regular-season. Parker said the Spurs are a determined bunch and everybody wants to keep fighting for a playoff spot. “We have a lot of character on this team,” said Parker.
Spurs suffer third straight loss
Without their two top players, the Spurs lost to the Houston Rockets, 109-93. LaMarcus Aldridge and Manu Ginobili did not suit up due to right knee soreness and rest, respectively. Without Aldridge and Ginobili, the Spurs did not have any chance against the Rockets’ offense. James Harden scored 28 points, Chris Paul added 18, Trevor Ariza had 15, Gerald Green chipped in 14 and Clint Capela scored 13 for the Rockets, who improved to 53-14. Bryn Forbes and Derrick White scored 14 points each, Rudy Gay chipped in 13, Tony Parker had 12 and Davis Bertans added 11 for the Spurs.