TITLE: Injury Roundup: Leonard Makes Limited Return to Practice; New Timetables for Jerome, Murray-Boyles, Wiggins and Cavs
SLUG: injury-roundup-leonard-jerome-murray-boyles-wiggins-cavaliers
CONTENT:
The Los Angeles Clippers received encouraging news on Wednesday when forward Kawhi Leonard took part in portions of practice for the first time since spraining his right ankle and foot on November 3. Head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters Leonard avoided contact drills but “has definitely gotten better.” The two-time Finals MVP, 34, has missed nine consecutive games, including Thursday’s matchup in Orlando. Los Angeles went 3-3 with him and is 1-7 without him this season.
Grizzlies
Guard Ty Jerome will undergo a reevaluation on Friday after a preseason high-grade right calf strain sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 campaign. The seventh-year veteran joined Memphis as a free agent in July; a clearer return timetable is expected once team doctors complete the examination.
Raptors
Rookie forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles, drafted ninth overall in June, will sit out a second straight game on Friday because of an MCL sprain in his right knee. Through 11 appearances, the 19-year-old is averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 20.0 minutes while shooting .500 from the field, .500 from three-point range and .762 at the line.
Heat
Andrew Wiggins has been diagnosed with a left hip flexor strain and is ruled out for Friday’s contest in Chicago, marking the forward’s first absence of the season. Fourth-year forward Nikola Jovic (right hip impingement) did not travel on the two-game road trip and will miss at least two more games.
Cavaliers
Sharpshooter Sam Merrill will miss his second consecutive game on Friday with a right hand sprain. Point guard Darius Garland (left great toe), center Jarrett Allen (right third-finger strain) and rookie Jaylon Tyson (concussion) are all listed as questionable against Indiana. Garland has been sidelined for five contests after aggravating the toe that required offseason surgery; head coach Kenny Atkinson recently indicated the All-Star is “really close” to playing.
Source: Hoops Rumors
