Golden State Warriors Injury Report
The Golden State Warriors received good news this week when forward Otto Porter Jr. was not listed on the latest NBA injury report. That means he should be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. We also look at Green’s condition and Klay Thompson’s foot.
Iguodala’s injury
The Warriors’ superstar is out for at least one game with a left cervical disk injury. The team plans to re-evaluate his status in a week. He did not play during the preseason. The Warriors will have to decide what to do without the veteran.
Andre Iguodala says he is doing everything around the clock to be ready for Game 1. He says it has been an interesting year with his body. He is questionable to play in Game 1, while Otto Porter Jr. and Draymond Green are out.
Green’s back injury
Draymond Green’s back injury has kept him out of the last 24 games, but the Warriors are optimistic that he will return within three to four weeks. The injury, which was first reported as a calf strain, was eventually linked to Green’s lower back. The Warriors thought two weeks of rest would be beneficial, but the center is now back in practice, doing light on-court activity.
Green’s back injury has left the Warriors with many questions. The Warriors are trying to be cautious, but Green is expected to return sometime between March 13 and 20. The injury is not life-threatening, but the Warriors are still worried about Green’s availability, particularly when the playoffs begin. Green has been taking shots on his own in recent days, and he told TNT’s “Inside the NBA” program that he feels great.
Cam Johnson’s condition
Cam Johnson’s condition on the Golden State Warriors injury report is a bit up in the air. The NBA coach says Johnson is “questionable” for Sunday’s game. He missed two of nine shots on Friday, including one from beyond the arc. However, there are no specific limitations on his minutes.
Golden State is playing with a smaller lineup on Sunday. Damian Green is expected to play, but the Warriors could use a smaller lineup. The Warriors are also likely to use a smaller lineup with Porter Jr. at power forward. The Warriors are also likely to start Corey Kispert in Bradley Beal’s place. Although his price is likely to go up, Kispert could be a much better value than other heavy hitters in the lineup.
Klay Thompson’s foot
Klay Thompson’s foot injury is not uncommon. The Golden State Warriors have been dealing with injuries all season long, and Thompson’s recent foot injury is just the latest. The forward has not played since June 13, when he tore his ACL. The Warriors won’t be able to get Klay back until the 2019-2020 season, and the absence of the star could derail the team’s title hopes.
The Warriors have been cautious with Thompson’s foot injury. While the foot injury appears to be a mild one, it could actually be an indication of a more serious injury. As a result, the Warriors have been hesitant to use Thompson in a game until the injury is fully diagnosed. However, the team did allow him to participate in pre-game workouts and full-court drills.
Kuminga’s status
Jonathan Kuminga is expected to miss at least a week with a strained patellar tendon in his right knee. The injury occurred during Golden State’s second preseason game when Nemanja Bjelica fell on him in the fourth quarter. The Warriors will re-evaluate Kuminga’s status next Friday. In the meantime, he will be limited to watching practices until he returns.
The Warriors have an upcoming back-to-back set against the Jazz and Knicks. Kuminga is expected to sit one of these games, as he’s not yet fully healthy. But he has a great deal of potential and will need time to develop. Taking a patient approach is probably the best option, considering the high expectations the team has for Kuminga. The Warriors aren’t going to rush his return, so they won’t be hurting if he doesn’t play.
