Toronto Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard has officially “completed treatment to address left knee swelling,” according to the team on Tuesday.

Leonard has missed the last five games due to his latest injury. Toronto is 2-3 during that stretch.

In his last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Leonard played 65 games, the most he’s logged since the 2023-24 season, during which he played in 68 games. The last time Leonard appeared in at least 60 games in back-to-back seasons was during 2016-17 with the San Antonio Spurs.

In two games this season, Leonard is averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals while shooting 32.4 per cent from the field.

During his 2019 championship season in Toronto, Leonard’s longest absence occurred when he missed four straight games due to load management. The Raptors recorded a 3-1 record during this time.

The last time Leonard dealt with a serious injury was when he missed the first 34 games of the 2024-25 campaign with the Clippers. At the time, he was dealing with chronic inflammation in his right knee.

The Washington Wizards just climbed to the top of the Southeast Division standings! This has not happened in quite awhile! They now host their Southeast Division rival, the Atlanta Hawks for a battle of the No. 1 ranking in the Division.

Game info

When: : Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

How to listen: The Team 980 AM, 106.7-2 FM

Injury Report

Wizards: Reece Beekman, Anthony Gill, Alex Sarr, Tristan Vukcevic, Justin Champagnie, Jamir Watkins (Out)

Hawks: Jalen Johnson (Day-to-Day), Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye, Henri Veesaar (Out)

Pregame notes

• Washington heads the Southeast Division! — This is a real testament to how the Wizards have turned things around. Yes, I know we are only seven games in the season. But, still, let us Wizards fans be excited about something!
• The Hawks look for an identity — The Hawks have changed things dramatically. For instance, they traded their franchise guy, Trae Young, to the Wizards last season. And they are anxious to show that was the right move. What a better occasion to do so than when playing the Wizards? Especially as the Wizards just beat in impressive fashion both the Magic and the Hornets.
• Trae revenge game? — Say no more…

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The Toronto Raptors completed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 125-118 at the Intuit Dome.

Toronto, which did not take its first lead until the final two minutes, came through with a clutch fourth-quarter rally to secure the win.

The Raptors found themselves in a similar position against the Lakers the previous night, but their comeback attempt fell short. This time, however, Toronto learned from that experience and finished the job with a hard-fought victory.

The Raptors continued to experiment with their options at centre, giving Trayce Jackson-Davis an opportunity last night before turning to Collin Murray-Boyles tonight, as Jakob Poeltl did not play.

Both teams traded possessions early, with neither side looking particularly sharp offensively. Trading baskets remained the theme for much of the opening quarter, as both teams struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

However, the Clippers began to create some separation behind their three-point shooting. Kobe Sanders led the charge late in the frame, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc as the Raptors had no answer for him. 

Los Angeles closed the quarter on a 17-5 run, extending its lead to as many as 13 points before heading into the second quarter with an 11-point advantage. 

Toronto looked sloppy down the stretch and simply didn’t do enough to start the game.

The Raptors showed some signs of life to start the second quarter, with Immanuel Quickley getting Toronto on the board before Scottie Barnes added his first basket of the night. Barnes, who entered the game questionable, had been relatively quiet through the opening stretch. 

RJ Barrett also provided a spark offensively, knocking down a three-pointer before scoring on a post-up jumper against former teammate Gradey Dick to bring his total to 16 points. 

Toronto’s three-point shooting and defensive effort improved, but the Clippers continued to respond whenever the Raptors threatened to build momentum.

Brook Lopez continued to give Toronto problems, taking advantage of the Raptors’ smaller lineup on both ends of the floor. 

Turnovers also became a major issue for Toronto, with seven giveaways leading to nine Clippers points. Dick continued to put together a strong performance as Los Angeles extended its lead to as many as 15 points. 

Toronto also had to manage much of the quarter without Barrett, who picked up his third personal foul. The Raptors had plenty of work to do after heading into halftime trailing 63-52.

Toronto came out of the halftime break with much better energy, as Barnes, Walter and Murray-Boyles helped spark a 6-0 run to cut the Clippers’ lead to five. The strong start forced Los Angeles to call an early timeout, but the Clippers quickly settled back into the game and restored their nine-point advantage.

Dick and Sanders continued to build on their impressive nights, with Dick making an impact across the floor and Sanders knocking down a three-pointer to cap an 11-3 Clippers run. 

Toronto continued to struggle offensively, with Barrett providing a strong performance but receiving very little help from the rest of the lineup.

Jamison Battle provided a much-needed spark off the bench, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to bring his total to 12 points. Battle was particularly effective from beyond the arc, shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range. 

Although Toronto showed some improvement towards the end of the quarter, the Clippers maintained control and carried a 13-point lead into the fourth. The Raptors needed a strong final quarter, similar to last night if they wanted  to make a comeback.

Toronto opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets from Alijah Martin and Scottie Barnes, who quietly recorded a double-double. Barnes and RJ Barrett began to find a rhythm together offensively, helping Toronto chip away at the deficit, while Immanuel Quickley added a pull-up three-pointer to cut the lead to eight. 

However, foul trouble continued to be an issue for the Raptors, with Ja’Kobe Walter picking up his fifth personal foul and Barrett his fourth, allowing the Clippers to extend their advantage back to 12. 

Los Angeles also lost Brook Lopez to fouls, as he fouled out with five minutes remaining, giving Toronto a potential opening to make a push.

With both teams showing signs of fatigue, Toronto continued to battle and took advantage of opportunities at the free-throw line to work its way back into the game. 

Barnes, Quickley and Barrett had carried much of the offensive load throughout the night, and they delivered when it mattered most. Barrett converted a tough layup with under three minutes remaining to tie the game at 109, capping a remarkable 16-4 Raptors run. 

Barnes followed with a difficult turnaround fadeaway to give Toronto its first lead of the night. Some clutch free throws from Barnes, Murray-Boyles and Quickley, combined with vintage defensive intensity down the stretch, helped the Raptors complete the fourth-quarter comeback and escape Los Angeles with a hard-fought victory.

Although it was far from a perfect performance, the Raptors showed resilience and refused to give up, earning a crucial victory.

Barnes, Quickley and Barrett led the way for Toronto with strong performances. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly with their three-point shooting, free-throw efficiency and ability to get off to a stronger start.

Raptors fans were hoping to see Kawhi Leonard face his former team, but neither Leonard nor Brandon Ingram suited up. Dick, however, delivered a solid performance against his former team, while Sanders led the Clippers with 26 points. Despite his efforts, Los Angeles could not hold on to its lead and fell to 1-6 on the season.

The Raptors, now 4-3, will enjoy a well-deserved day off tomorrow before travelling to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m.

There was an unfortunate trend that began to manifest itself during the back half of last season. When the going gets tough, your best players need to get going. And unfortunately for the Phoenix Suns, that trend involved Devin Booker’s struggles to perform in clutch moments.

From February 1 onward, in 11 clutch games in which Booker played, the Suns went 3-8. During those moments, Booker shot 6-of-20 from the field, recorded five assists against eight turnovers, and posted a -34 plus/minus.

That’s concerning, especially when you consider that over his previous 10 seasons, which included some pretty horrible Suns teams, Booker owned a -2 +/- in 316 clutch situations. He shot 40% from the field during those moments and maintained a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.

And it wasn’t as if Booker had struggled in the clutch throughout the entirety of last season. Through the first 19 games in which he played, the Suns were 11-8 in clutch situations. Booker shot 51.2% from the field, recorded 10 assists against only three turnovers, and posted a +27 plus/minus. But upon returning from an ankle injury on February 7, the nosedive began.

You can make the argument that it’s supposed to be tough, that your best player is naturally going to be the focal point of opposing defenses, and therefore his performance will be hindered by the schemes designed to stop him. During that same timeframe, from February 1 onward, Booker ranked dead last in plus/minus among players who attempted at least 20 shots in clutch situations. Jalen Brunson, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were at the top of the list, with Brunson posting a +41. And there were plenty of other names ahead of Booker, including Jamal Murray, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Desmond Bane.

That only adds to the concern about who Devin Booker is and what he represents at this point in his career, particularly within the context of this Suns team. Because you can make excuses all day long about how he’s being double-teamed or triple-teamed, but great players make the necessary adjustments that lead to team success. That’s why plus/minus, when evaluated over an extended period, carries considerably more value than looking at the number from a single game. The trend we witnessed last season was concerning.

If double teams are being thrown at Devin Booker, why is he turning the ball over so frequently? Does he not see them coming? You know as well as I do that many of those turnovers come from Booker predictably driving into a crowd of defenders and trying to force the issue rather than relying on the finesse that’s been a hallmark of his career.

Why do I bring this up? Because on Monday night against the Golden State Warriors, that familiar trend once again manifested itself. Booker’s inability to execute in clutch moments ultimately contributed to another Suns loss. Yes, there are multiple variables involved, including other players who failed to perform when it mattered most. But none of those guys are making $57 million a year.

Booker re-entered the game with the Suns leading 106-104 and 4:48 remaining. A minute later, he connected on a nine-foot jumper, accounting for his only two points in clutch time. From there, things unraveled.

With Phoenix trailing 109-108, Booker missed a wide-open 12-foot jumper. On the following possession, he turned the ball over. After Jalen Green committed a turnover on the next trip down the floor, Booker was called for an offensive foul, his sixth and final foul of the game.

His final clutch stat line? In 3.8 minutes, Booker shot 1-of-2 from the field, grabbed one rebound, committed two turnovers, and posted a -7 plus/minus.

It’s not the end of the world, but it does raise concerns that Devin Booker is picking up right where he left off last season, when his ability to impose his will on a game appeared to be a fading trait. 

You might look at this as a one-game sample, but I see it as a sample of 11 previous clutch-time games. Perhaps that’s still not enough to definitively identify a trend, especially when you consider the body of work Booker has put together over what is now his 12th NBA season. But it’s the manner in which these struggles recur, time and again, that has become the focal point of frustration for a fan base desperate for success and watching a team that can ill afford to lose.

Booker’s game has become predictable, and his execution in these moments has been subpar. And I know that somewhere, somebody is preparing to show me a collection of all the game winners Booker has made throughout his career. I appreciate every one of those moments and what they’ve meant to us as Suns fans. In the same breath, hitting a game-winner against Oklahoma City last season doesn’t equate to a victory last night against Golden State.

Devin Booker has earned the benefit of the doubt throughout his career, but that doesn’t mean he’s exempt from scrutiny when the results begin telling a different story. The Suns need their best player to be their best player when possessions matter most. That requires better decisions, cleaner execution, and an ability to recognize what opposing defenses are taking away. Booker’s past has established what he’s capable of. His present is beginning to raise legitimate questions about his ability to consistently deliver it.

The Celtics could be without both Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Tatum, who hasn’t missed a game this season, is listed as questionable with rest. Pritchard, who also hasn’t missed a game, is questionable with a right shoulder contusion.

Both Tatum and Pritchard played on both nights of the Celtics Sunday-Monday back-to-back against the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, who each sat out one night of the road trip, are both available to play on Wednesday.

Tatum has had a strong start to the season after a complete recovery from his Achilles rupture. The Celtics star is averaging 27 points, 7.9 assists, and 6 rebounds so far this season, while shooting 41.8% from the field and 22.9% from three.

Pritchard has mostly struggled offensively, with the exception of two big-time games against the Chicago Bulls; he’s averaging 13.4 points and 3.4 assists, while shooting 40.3% from the field and 31% from three.

Baylor Scheierman could get the start in place of Jayson Tatum

The Celtics utilized a starting lineup of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Mitchell Robinson for the first five games of the season. But Hugo Gonzalez has started in place of Walsh over the past two games, and Neemias Queta started in place of Robinson in Monday’s loss to the Rockets. Baylor Scheierman earned his first start of the season when George sat on Sunday.

If Tatum ultimately rests, the Celtics could once again start Scheierman. Walsh and Sam Hauser are also potential candidates.

Pritchard, meanwhile, has come off the bench every game so far this season. If he ultimately sits, that could open up some on-court opportunities for Mike Conley or Ron Harper Jr., both of whom have been on the outskirts of the regular rotation.

The Celtics are 5-2 to begin the season, with wins against the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls (twice), and Brooklyn Nets. They’ve dropped games against the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets.

The Bucks are 1-6 to start their first post-Giannis Antetokounmpo season. Tyler Herro (21.9 points, 4 assists per game) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) have led them.

Celtics-Bucks tips off at 7:30pm ET at TD Garden.