Warriors Injury Report – Klay Thompson, Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr.
The latest Warriors injury report includes a number of notable names. In addition to Curry and Payton II, Klay Thompson and Porter were sidelined. The second overall pick in the 2020 draft has not played since April due to swelling in his surgically repaired knee. The absence of these stars will affect the team’s depth and ability to compete with the best teams in the league.
Curry’s foot injury
Steph Curry’s foot injury is the only major concern on the Warriors injury report heading into Thursday’s Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. The Warriors star is listed as a probable for the game, along with Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr., James Wiseman, and Robert Williams III. The rest of the roster will be available for rotation. The Warriors are in third place in the Western Conference with a 50-29 record through 79 games.
Stephen Curry has had to deal with lower-leg injuries throughout his career. His most recent injury occurred on March 16 against the Boston Celtics and required him to sit out 12 games in the regular season. While it’s disappointing that Curry missed that much time, he’s vowed to play in Game 4 and is expected to be ready for it. Although he’ll likely only play a limited role, Curry’s foot injury hasn’t stopped the Warriors’ offense this series.
Payton II’s fractured elbow
The Warriors have confirmed that Gary Payton II has suffered a fractured left elbow. The Warriors head coach left the team for an MRI on Wednesday. In a statement, the team said that Payton will miss two to three weeks. The Warriors are hopeful that Payton will be able to return to the lineup for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Warriors’ shooting guard Gary Payton II has fractured his left elbow and is undergoing an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. The team also says that Payton’s injury may include ligament damage. The injury is the result of a hard foul from Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Dillon Brooks. Brooks was ejected for the foul, which caused Payton to fall awkwardly onto his left arm.
Klay Thompson’s lack of consistency in back-to-backs
Klay Thompson isn’t a sure thing to start the NBA playoffs, and his lack of consistency in back-to-back games is frustrating. But it’s important for the Warriors to win the NBA title, and if Thompson can stay healthy and play at his top level, they will be in good position to do so. In the regular season, Thompson averaged 20.4 points per game, shooting 43% from the field and 38% from deep, which were both below his career average. In the postseason, he’s shooting a bit better, but his average has fallen to 19.1 points per game, with just six games over 20 points and eight games of 15 or less.
The Warriors have been forced to deal with a number of absences and inconsistency. Green and Curry have been out for some time, and Thompson has sat out two back-to-back games. In addition, the Warriors have been without second-year center James Wiseman, who hasn’t played a game this season. That leaves the Warriors with two young center options – Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga – and two third-year guards in Moses Moody and David Lee.
Porter’s absence
The Warriors’ injury report on Monday revealed that guard Otto Porter has been sidelined since mid-June due to a foot issue. Porter missed Game 6 against the Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals. His absence is a big concern as the two-way player has been a key part of Golden State’s success this season. In the 13 games he’s played this postseason, Porter has averaged 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Porter is currently listed as day-to-day. The Warriors’ injury report also lists Andre Iguodala, who has been dealing with a neck injury. It’s unclear how long Porter will be sidelined, but the Warriors will not play again until June 2, when they will face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals.
Iguodala’s return
The Warriors have announced that Andre Iguodala will play Game 3 of their NBA Finals series against the Grizzlies. The forward has been sidelined for two series with a left cervical disk injury. But the injury has improved and he will play Game 3. Iguodala is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday night. Iguodala, a veteran of multiple injuries this season, has experience with the Warriors’ core.
The Warriors’ first round matchup against Denver saw Andre Iguodala start and play in Game 1. He then sat out Games 3 and 4 in Denver. But on Sunday, he returned. This is a great development, as it means Andre Payton, who broke his elbow during the Western Conference semifinals, will have the opportunity to play again. In Game 2, he scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds in 25 minutes.
