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Kawhi Leonard officially ruled out for opening playoff game

Kawhi Leonard has officially been ruled out for the Spurs’ first playoff game against the Warriors on Saturday. (Getty Images)
Kawhi Leonard has officially been ruled out for the Spurs’ first playoff game against the Warriors on Saturday. (Getty Images)

Kawhi Leonard still isn’t ready to make his return to the court.

Leonard — who has been battling a right quad injury all season — has officially been ruled out for San Antonio’s opening playoff game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the team announced on Friday night.

Leonard miss the first 27 games of the season with the injury before making his return in December. The 26-year-old only lasted nine games, however, and hasn’t played for the Spurs since Jan. 13. San Antonio even held a players-only meeting in an attempt to get Leonard to return to the starting lineup back in March, although it didn’t seem to change anything.

Leonard is eligible for a super-max contract extension this summer — which is projected to be worth more than $200 million over five years. Though with his extended absence from the court, many have speculated that Leonard and the Spurs will part ways after this season, and many teams are expected to make a play for the former Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 Finals MVP.

The Warriors are down Steph Curry for the opening series, who is currently sidelined with a sprained MCL. Curry is expected to make his return in the second round of the playoffs, should the Warriors make it past San Antonio.

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