Golden State Warriors All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are “questionable” for Sunday’s Game 1 against the Houston Rockets in the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals because of right ankle injuries, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
More on Klay Thompson Injury
"He's OK," Kerr said Saturday of Thompson. "He and Steph both came in this morning to get some treatment. And I haven't even spoken with [Warriors director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini] yet today so we're upstairs watching film and getting ready. We'll see how they're doing [Sunday]. I'm not going to make a definitive statement on whether they'll both play -- let's just call it questionable.”
Kerr acknowledged that Thompson's sprain, which came in the third quarter Friday night, was more severe than initially thought. "It was a significant sprain," Kerr said. "He was limping last night. So as I said, we'll see how he's doing [Sunday]."
Saturday morning, hours after the Warriors won their fifth-straight road playoff game, Klay Thompson’s sprained ankle was still pretty bad, according to sources. Bad enough to put his availability in question for Game 1 against visiting Houston on Sunday? That is certainly on the table. How his ankle responds to treatment over the next 24 hours is what the Warriors are watching closely.
Logan Murdock: Steve Kerr said both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are questionable for Game 1. When asked about @Marcus Thompson’s report that Klay’s ankle was ‘pretty bad’ Kerr joked that reporters have better sources than he does. pic.twitter.com/ABDTgihtUD
Mark Medina: Official word for tonight: Kevin Durant (flu), Klay Thompson (right knee soreness), Andre Iguodala (left toe soreness) and Andrew Bogut are all out tonight vs Pelicans
Mark Medina: Klay Thompson says he’s “good to go” tonight pic.twitter.com/GW33RiSDUi
Mark Medina: Klay Thompson on the rare times he misses games with an injury: "You always want to be out there. It is a rigorous season with 82 games. But you want to be there for your teammates every night and for the fans who pay their hard-earned money to come watch us."
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney are out tonight. Andre Iguodala is good to go.
Shams Charania: MRI on Golden State Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson's right knee returned clean, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Golden State Warriors All-Star swingman Klay Thompson will not play Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers because of right knee soreness. Thompson is scheduled to have an MRI when the Warriors return to the Bay Area on Sunday. He injured the knee during Thursday night's loss to the Orlando Magic, but is not concerned he will miss an extended amount of time.
"I'm sore but I'll be all right," Thompson told ESPN. "I don't think it's anything serious, but it's definitely better [we] take the right precautions for sure."
Marc J. Spears: Warriors guard Klay Thompson is expected to play tonight after missing a game to illness.
Marc J. Spears: Warriors say Klay Thompson (illness) is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Lakers.
Drew Shiller: Steve Kerr just told @Damon Bruce that Klay Thompson's ankle sprain is nothing serious and that Klay is probable for Wednesday night's game vs the Wizards
Melissa Rohlin: Klay said he will definitely play tomorrow and says he has a pretty high pain tolerance—but still feels pain. “Im not invincible,” he said.
Later, on the postgame podium, Draymond would appraise Klay as “one of the toughest guys if not the toughest guy I’ve ever played with.” Draymond also plays with David West. Perhaps that’s explained by Klay’s zen as much as his grit. He just doesn’t care, except for the things he really cares about. He loves basketball and will tune out everything, even immense pain, in order to play it and play it better. After the game, Klay said, “I didn’t realize how much you use your ankle until you hurt it.” That part of life was off his radar, until it came into focus. That’s Klay’s secret. He optimizes what he wants, and ignores what he doesn’t. The result is a game and life that, as Zaza might say, is true.
Marc J. Spears: Klay Thompson (left lateral leg contusion) is available to play
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson will not have a minutes restriction tonight, per a team source.
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson has never missed a playoff game. Kerr said that he met with his staff earlier today to put a plan in place for the rotation in case Thompson can't go.
Mark Medina: As @Ramona Shelburne and @Sam Amick noted, strong expectation Klay Thompson will play tonight in Game 2. Wouldn’t be surprised if Klay has no minutes restriction either. But will he have limited impact on court? Can he find the same adrenaline to play off of as he did in Game 1?
Over the last six seasons, the average missed time for an isolated high ankle sprain is roughly 10 games. However the variability is high and a quicker return is possible. For example, earlier this season Indiana’s Myles Turner was able to return to action from a high ankle sprain after just three days and one game lost.
The Warriors have been providing Thompson with non-stop treatment and he is currently listed as questionable. However, even if Thompson is able to play, an injury of this magnitude could negatively impact his ability to make hard cuts and come off of screens. With uncertainty lingering, it seems this is just the latest injury to influence this recurring Finals matchup.
Thompson, who suffered a high left ankle sprain in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Cleveland on Thursday, is questionable for Game 2 on Sunday. While talking with reporters on Saturday – his right foot in a sneaker and his left wearing a slider with no socks – Thompson was unsure of whether or not he’ll be able to play. “I'm going to do everything I possibly can to play tomorrow,” he said. “It's not good.”
When it comes to NBA iron men, Golden State guard Klay Thompson is on the league’s short list. Since being drafted out of Washington State in 2011, the four-time All-Star has missed just 21 regular-season games out of a possible 558. Come playoff time, he’s even more durable: 100% attendance in 99 games. That streak, however, is in serious jeopardy.
Connor Letourneau: Warriors officially listing Klay Thompson as questionable for Game 2.
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson on JR Smith's role in his injury: "When I watched the replay, it pissed me off. That's a tough play on the ball, and just to tumble into somebody's legs like that...You gotta move past it, but it's life...It's just a minor setback. I don't think it was intentional."
Marc J. Spears: Warriors guard Klay Thompson (ankle) says he is optimistic he will play in Game 2, "I'm going to do what I possibly can to play." He added that the under cut accidental slip from Cavs guard JR Smith on the play in which he hurt his ankle wasn't intentional but it "pissed me off."
Connor Letourneau: Kevin Durant on Klay Thompson: "Just knowing Klay, I'm sure he'll be fine."
Monte Poole: 'It's sore but it's nothing too bad. It's less sore than it was last night, so that's a great sign. And I expect to heal up even more by tonight.' #Warriors G Klay Thompson today on his L leg contusion.
Anthony Slater: Klay Thompson last night on his injury: "I’ve got a sore ligament. I’m happy it’s just a muscle that got strained a little bit. No damage. The X-rays were negative so I’m happy about that." Said he will play in Game 2.
Melissa Rohlin: Klay Thompson didn't think JR Smith tried to intentionally hurt him: "I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he was going for the ball. I don't think it was intentional."
Midway through the first quarter of Game 1 at Oracle Arena, when the Cavs led 18-15, four-time All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson went down with a left knee injury when Cavs guard J.R. Smith went barreling into him along the sideline. Thompson, who was taken to the locker room and evaluated, suffered only a left lateral leg contusion and returned to start the second quarter.
David Hardisty: Steve Kerr says Andre Iguodala will not play tonight. Klay Thompson will play.
Adam Wexler: Kerr today on Thompson, Iguodala: "I believe Klay will play, but we're still listing him as questionable, we gotta see how he feels during pregame. And Andre, incremental progress, gametime decision. He needs more treatment, he'll probably warmup tonight & we'll see what happens.
Mark Medina: Steve Kerr believes Klay Thompson will play. Andre Iguodala listed as a game-time decision
Connor Letourneau: Kerr said Iguodala is doing better and Thompson is “moving around really well. I think he’s going to be fine.”
Mark Medina: Warriors are listing Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson as questionable for tomorrow in Game 5 vs Rockets
David Aldridge: Postgame, @KlayThompson says his knee is sore but he expects to play in Game 5 Thursday.
Chris Haynes: Golden State guard Klay Thompson tells ESPN he will return from a fractured right thumb tonight at Sacramento. He had missed the past eight games.
Melissa Rohlin: Thompson on whether he'll play vs. Kings: "Hopefully, I mean it's up to the training staff and coach Kerr. But I feel great, I feel like I'm shooting great and I'm eager to get out there. I feel like I'm probable."
Melissa Rohlin: Klay Thompson on whether the tape around his thumb affects his shot: "Not really, to be honest. You get used to it. But if I start missing shots, that's definitely my excuse. So just write that down now."
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson said he will “hopefully”play tomorrow. Considers himself probable.
Anthony Slater: Steve Kerr said he hopes Klay Thompson can return this weekend: "Possibly Saturday." They also play on Sunday.
Melissa Rohlin: Klay on when he hurt his thumb: "I thought it was just a bad sprain. Luckily it wasn't worse. It hurt. But I'm not going to leave the game with only eight or nine guys we have. I'm not going to leave them out there on an island like that. So I just played through it."
Monte Poole: 'He and Rocco are about to get even closer.' -#Warriors coach Steve Kerr on how @KlayThompson (who during his career has played in 98 percent of available games) will cope with being idle with fractured R thumb Klay does love his dog.
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson said he’s going to try to come back in less than 2 weeks.
Logan Murdock: What is Klay Thompson going to during his time off from injury? Steve Kerr: “He and Rocko [his dog] are about to get even closer.”
Shams Charania: Golden State Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson’s right thumb injury will likely sideline him several games, and he’s expected to return before end of the month, league sources tell Yahoo.
Sam Amick: Klay Thompson fractured right thumb against Minnesota, as has been reported, and will be re-evaluated March 22. Warriors confident he'll return somewhere around there, or not long after, I'm told. Not expected to linger.
Chris Haynes: ESPN Sources: Golden State guard Klay Thompson has a fractured right thumb and will be re-evaluated next Thursday, March 22.
Mark Medina: With Klay's injury, that means both Klay and Steph are out for at least the next four games. No Splash Brothers for at least a week.
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson has a right thumb sprain and Nick Young has a left hip contusion. Both are probable for Wednesday's game against the Lakers.
Chris Haynes: Golden State says Stephen Curry (right hand contusion), Kevin Durant (sprained left ankle), David West (left lateral knee soreness) and Klay Thompson (sprained right ankle) are a go tonight at Orlando. Andre Iguodala (sore left knee) will sit it out.
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson missed practice tonight.
Connor Letourneau: Klay Thompson (sore right foot) is good to go tonight.
Connor Letourneau: Patrick McCaw will start for Klay Thompson (sore right foot) tonight. Briante Weber will definitely play, Kerr said.
Stefan Bondy: Klay Thompson with a nasty bruise on his left leg https://t.co/CiichW65ue
Adam Lauridsen: Kerr on Klay's leg: "Klay's fine."
Chris Fedor: #Warriors Klay Thompson with a noticeable grimace when getting up from the podium. Had a limp last night. https://t.co/ZdUNbOK0qh
Rusty Simmons: Walton on Klay's ankle: "He's not well enough to risk it."
