Looney out two games because of nerve pain

Warriors center Kevon Looney has been ruled out of games in Oklahoma City (Sunday) and New Orleans (Monday) with right hamstring tightness.

Looney will meet with a “team of specialists to evaluate the ongoing presence of a neuropathic condition in his body, which has a direct correlation to his recent injury,” according to a news release. The Warriors expect to have an update after team doctors discuss Looney’s condition with specialists.

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, neuropathic pain is a chronic condition that occurs when nerves become injured or damaged. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Looney has had the condition for “a couple years, and it’s something that he’s been able to play through. But in this particular case, the condition is affecting his hamstring.

“The hamstring is sound. The MRI is clean, but it makes it trickier that it’s a neuropathic issue.”

Looney, 23, missed all five of the Warriors’ preseason games with a right hamstring issue. After scrimmaging multiple times with no problems, he started Thursday night’s seasonopening loss to the Clippers, posting three points and nine rebounds in 10 minutes before sitting the second half.

This is a blow to a center rotation that was already without Willie CauleyStein (left midfoot sprain) and rookie Alen Smailagic (right ankle sprain).

“I’m feeling really, really bad for Kevon,” Kerr said. “He’s such a great human being, great player. He’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever coached because he’s not just low maintenance, he’s zero maintenance. You just want a guy like that to flourish.

“He should be entering the prime of his career. Hopefully, he’s got many years ahead of him. Hopefully he finds answers sooner rather than later, and we can get him back on the floor.”

CauleyStein, who practiced Saturday with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, is expected to get reevaluated Thursday. Smailagic will likely miss at least another weekplus.

In the meantime, Marquese Chriss — a former lottery pick who earned a 15man roster spot in preseason as a trainingcamp invitee — is expected to start at center. Omari Spellman and Draymond Green, both more power forwards than centers, will be backups.

“I’m really, really excited to get Willie on the floor,” Kerr said. “It’s been very difficult for us. I mean, we basically had Looney for 101⁄2 minutes on the court during a game. So, our center position has been in flux since the opening of training camp, and it’s showed.

“It showed in our defense. We’re asking so much of our young guys who really aren’t even centers. I mean, Marquese and Omari are really our fourmen. We’re asking them to anchor our defense and play five. That’s a tough job. We’re anxious to get Willie back, hopefully sometime soon. Obviously, Looney as well, and that will help us a lot.”

Last season, Looney averaged 6.3 points on 62.5% shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 80 games. He signed a threeyear, $15 million deal with Golden State in July.

The good news for the Warriors is that swingman Alec Burks, who missed the preseason with a sprained right ankle, practiced again Saturday and could return against the Thunder. A skilled slasher who can knock down the open 3pointer, Burks, 28, should offer Golden State a muchneeded scoring threat off the bench.

Green, who suffered a right elbow bruise in Thursday’s loss, has been cleared to play Sunday.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.