San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard will face the Golden State Warriors Sunday in the opener of the Western Conference finals, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright.
Leonard, who injured his left ankle on Tuesday, could have played in Thursday night's semifinals-clinching 114-75 win over the Houston Rockets if needed, but the team decided they'd rather have him healthy for Sunday, Wright reported.
Leonard received treatment on his ankle throughout the day on Thursday and spent the game in the Spurs' locker room and not on the bench. Coach Gregg Popovich announced before the game that Leonard wouldn't play, adding that it wasn't Leonard's decision to sit.