Reporters have tried all season to induce a phrase or signal of intent, with no success. His teammate Serge Ibaka was the newest to pop the query when he not too long ago had Leonard as a visitor on a cooking present he hosts
“Bro, are you coming again?” Ibaka requested, out of the blue.
“What sort of query is that?” Leonard mentioned.
After Ibaka supplied to ask it once more, in Spanish, Leonard brushed it off, saying, “We’ll see after the season is up.”
For everybody’s sake, higher to reside within the second, hold 2019 hope alive. Reflecting the urgency of a traditional collection swing recreation, the proficient ahead Pascal Siakam was within the beginning lineup regardless of being listed as uncertain with a calf damage. Lowry, as promised, got here out aggressive, searching for his shot. The Raptors by no means trailed within the first half, contesting the paint much better than they did in Recreation three and holding their very own on the boards.
The lead seesawed through the second half, as Jimmy Butler and J. J. Redick compensated for Embiid’s lethargy, settling for setting excessive screens or attempting to find the cutters. It was nonetheless anybody’s recreation at 91-90 when Leonard, dribbling left to proper, rose to shoot from 26 toes, recalling the same regular-season state of affairs towards Houston, when his shot got here up brief.
“Get it up excessive, a minimum of to the again rim,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless within the second, Leonard pulled the Raptors again from what might need been the sting of their season and himself from having to start confronting his choice. His reward is attending to suppose no additional than Recreation 5, on Tuesday evening, within the Canadian metropolis he at present calls residence.