Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard won’t return Thursday vs. Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard won't be making his long-awaited return on Thursday as the San Antonio Spurs had hoped.

Leonard and the Spurs had reportedly circled Thursday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans as the return date from his quad injury, but multiple reports on Tuesday indicated those plans were being scrapped.

The two-time All-Star forward has played in only nine games this season because of the injury, and he has missed the Spurs' last 23 games since his last appearance on Jan. 13 in a 112-80 rout of Denver in which he had 19 points and eight rebounds.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Monday that he would discuss the situation with Leonard on Tuesday and did not put any timetable on his return. Popovich spoke with reporters again on Tuesday and said Leonard "needs a little bit more work."

"He's got to be cleared by his medical staff that he's seeing. And until he gets cleared, we can't make a decision on when he's coming back," Popovich said. "So once he gets cleared, then he and I can sit down and talk, and see what we think about an appropriate time to come back. But that clearance has to be obtained first."

Leonard, 26, is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 boards and 2.3 assists this season for San Antonio (37-30), who are in a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 14 games remaining.

The Spurs have finished with a winning record in an NBA-record 20 straight seasons. They last missed the playoffs in the 1996-97 season. — Field Level Media/Reuters