Kawhi Leonard to miss Spurs-Warriors showdown

When the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs square off in Texas on Saturday, one of the best players in the NBA will be sitting on the sidelines.

The Spurs announced on Friday that MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol and will not play.

Leonard was injured when he was hit in the head during Thursday’s 102-92 defeat at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The small forward is averaging 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with the Spurs, who trail the Warriors by two games for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Leonard has been on a tear of late, averaging 30.8 points in five games in March.

The Spurs will provide updates on Leonard’s return to the court as appropriate, while Tony Parker (back stiffness) is also a doubt for the match.