Will Kawhi Leonard play in Game 2 vs. Warriors?

The Golden State Warriors took Game 1 over the San Antonio Spurs, who were without Kawhi Leonard for the end of the game. With Leonard set to undergo an MRI on Monday, will he play in Game 2?

This is the million dollar question that fans in San Antonio and Oakland want to be answered ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday night. Will Kawhi Leonard be in uniform ready to play? Based on the post-game press conference, the pending MRI and investigative Twitter, I’ll have to lean toward the belief that Leonard will not suit up for Game 2.

With approximately eight minutes left in the third quarter, Leonard went back for a routine jump shot on the baseline in front of the San Antonio bench. He came down on Zaza Pachulia’s foot, re-aggravating an injury from the Houston Rockets’ series. Leonard immediately signaled to go to the locker room and never returned to the game.

What resulted was a 25-point comeback victory for Golden State on the shoulders of Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. After Leonard’s injury, the Spurs’ offense looked pathetic, with no ball movement and far too many late shot-clock prayers. There was nobody that could break the defense off the dribble and it fueled the Dubs’ comeback.

Leonard is set to undergo an MRI on the sprained ankle, which has been bothering him for about a week now. After the game, the Spurs’ superstar did state that he felt good and healthy, but seemed noncommital of playing in Game 2. He didn’t have a limp heading out of the locker room, but his ankle was heavily taped up, according to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.

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This series could get away from the Spurs if Leonard doesn’t play in Game 2. They couldn’t hold a 23 point lead without their best player, so I don’t expect them to win a 48-minute game at Oracle Arena without him. Jonathon Simmons stepped in for Leonard and continued to shine in his replacement role, adding 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting.

Leonard’s wizardry on both ends of the floor will be missed if he’s unable to go on Tuesday night. Although Spurs’ fans might tell me that they won Game 6 in Houston without Leonard, this is a completely different animal. The Warriors are lightyears ahead of the Rockets and the Spurs are down one game in this series, not up one like Game 6 in Houston.