Kawhi Leonard is back.
According to Eric Koreen of The Athletic, the two-time All-Star will play on Friday when the Toronto Raptors take on Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kawhi will play tonight vs Blazers. Lowry (thigh) is questionable.
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) December 15, 2018
Leonard missed Toronto's back-to-back against the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors this week with a hip injury. The Raptors won both games without him, blowing the Clippers out by 24 points and the Warriors by 20.
Kyle Lowry stepped up in a big way in Leonard's absence. After a stretch that saw him score a total of 15 points in four games, Lowry had 21 points against the Clippers and 23 points against the Warriors. He also dished out 12 assists against the Warriors.
Lowry, however, will not play on Friday because of a thigh bruise.
Leonard has missed seven games already this season. Fred VanVleet replaced him in the starting lineup this week and posted averages of 7.5 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.