Spurs hold their breath with Leonard limping

The San Antonio Spurs are a victory away from eliminating the Houston Rockets and advancing to the Western Conference final for the first time since winning the NBA title in 2014.

But entering Thursday’s Game 6 in Houston, there are questions about whether Kawhi Leonard will be at full strength after rolling his ankle Tuesday in an overtime win.

The Spurs’ MVP candidate was hurt when he stepped on James Harden’s foot about midway through the third quarter.

He played limited minutes for the rest of regulation and did not play in overtime.

Leonard said after the game it was “a little sore” and he was limping. But he insisted he’s fine and will be ready to go Thursday.

If Leonard is still hobbled for Game 6, it will be another blow to a team already without Tony Parker after the veteran suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in Game 2.

Leonard was pragmatic when asked if he thinks his team is in control of the series after escaping with a win on Tuesday night.

“No,” he said. “Not in control until we win Game 6.”

After getting blown out in their last trip to Houston, the Spurs know eliminating a team with its back against the wall will be a huge task.

“It’s going to be tough,” Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge said.

“They’re a great offensive team. A bunch of competitive guys, they play way more confident at home ... it’s going to be about taking care of the ball, playing confident, just trying to minimize our mistakes out there.”

The Rockets are left to ponder their missed opportunity after failing to take advantage of Leonard’s absence in overtime of the 110-107 loss. Harden was brilliant through most of Tuesday’s game, finishing

with a triple-double — 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

But he seemed to run out of gas in an overtime where he was held scoreless and had a three-pointer that could have tied the game blocked by 39-year-old Manu Ginobili just before the buzzer.

“We let one slip away,” Harden said. “Execution and rebounding are probably the two primary things we let slip away in this game. We still have an opportunity in Game 6 to go home and protect home court and bring it back for Game 7.”

Harden wasn’t the only Rocket who seemed spent late on a night when Houston used just seven players. Coach Mike D’Antoni has used an eight-man rotation throughout the playoffs, but didn’t add anyone to the mix on Tuesday in the first game since backup centre Nene suffered a torn thigh muscle.

D’Antoni wasn’t sure after the game if he’d tweak the rotation in the next game.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t think about it too much on the way here, but I’ll think about it and I’ll let you know tomorrow or the next day or maybe not. I have no clue.”