San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game one against the Golden State Warriors after reaggravating an ankle injury in the third quarter.

Leonard, playing for the first time since missing game six of the NBA Western Conference semi-finals with a sprained left ankle, rolled the ankle twice in a span of 10 minutes after helping the Spurs build a 20-point lead.

In the second incident at Oracle Arena in Oakland, he was fouled by Warriors centre Zaza Pachulia while attempting a jumper and landed awkwardly on the ankle.

The 2016-17 MVP candidate shot his subsequent free throws and was subbed out by Jonathon Simmons with 7:52 remaining in the third.

San Antonio said Leonard would not return to the game with a left ankle sprain.

He finished with 26 points on seven of 13 shooting.

Pachulia took an extra step toward Leonard on the foul, a move criticised by some as an intentional attempt to target his ailing ankle.

Leonard's absence sparked an 18-0 Warriors run as they trimmed the Spurs' lead to 90-81 by the start of the fourth quarter. 

San Antonio led by as many as 25 points before Leonard's departure.