Injury report is a healthy list
Sprained ankle likely to sideline Thompson against Orlando
ORLANDO, FLA. » On the surface, the development would seem to significantly crack the foundation that represents the Warriors’ fabric.
The Warriors ( 16- 6) listed Klay Thompson (sprained right ankle) as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Magic (913), while also considering Stephen Curry (right hand contusion), Kevin Durant (sprained left ankle), Andre Iguodala (sore left knee) and David West ( left lateral knee soreness) as prob- able.
“Today’s injury report was very alarming, from what I hear,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m hearing half your team is not going to play.”
In reality, the development suggests something different.
Thompson seems the most likely to sit after missing practice on Thursday because of a right ankle sprain he suffered late in Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry completed a post-practice shooting workout wearing a bandage on his right hand to protect his ring finger. During the Warriors’ 127-123 over--
time win over the Lakers, Curry wore the same wrap, while often relying on his left hand both to run the offense and to shoot.
“I don’t think it’s something where if we give him a fewdays off, it’ll just disappear,” Kerr said. “I think itmay linger for a while. So he’s going to have to get used to it.”
Everyone else practiced without any limitations. While West sat Wednesday’s game against the Lakers, the other players have had those aforementioned injuries in recent days.
“I feel good. Good to be back there,” Durant said. “Good to be playing the game I love. I feel great.”
So why are the Warriors channeling the New England Patriots by listing so many players on their injury report. Short answer: the Warriors want tomake the NBA happy.
“If a guy is banged up, we have to list them on the injury report,” Kerr said. “But I think our guys are all probable at this point. I’m never going to say for a certain a guy is going to play. But they appear to be doing OK.”
As for Curry, Kerr observed that he was “hampered in terms of his mobility and using that [right] hand” after rewatching the game during the team’s flight on Thursday. Though Curry shot 6 of 17 from the field and 1 of 7 from3-point range in regulation, Curry made two 3-pointers and a jumper in overtime. Curry also shot the ball with his left hand.
“That shows how skilled Steph is,” Durant said. “A lot of players can’t do that in playing with their left hand as much as they did. Maybe I got to start working that. You never know what will happen in this league as far as injuries.”
Neither do the Warriors, which explains their precautionary measures with the injury report.
The Warriors logged extensive playing time with their key players in overtime against the Lakers, including Durant (42 minutes), Curry (39 minutes) Thompson (39 minutes), Draymond Green (38 minutes) and Iguodala (35minutes). Therefore, Kerr said “it’s a pretty good chance” he will rest a combination of players during the Warriors’ back-to-back slate in Miami (Sunday) and New Orleans (Monday).
• Kerr sounded excited about Tigers Woods’ comeback, and the reasons did not just involve wanting to see Woods golf again. Kerr could feel Woods’ pain after both have had issues with their backs in recent years.
“When you go through a back injury, you understand other people who have been through it,” Kerr said.
Woods has talked with Kerr about his back injury.
“He was just really nice,” Kerr said. “He reached out through a mutual friend to offer some encouragement.”
• The NBA changed its 82- game schedule by spreading out travel days and reducing back- tobacks. For the Warriors, though, they have had a frontloaded road schedule with two lengthy trips this month.
They just started an 11- day, six-game trip that started in Los Angeles ( Wednesday) and continues in Orlando ( Friday), Miami (Sunday), New Orleans (Monday), Charlotte ( Wednesday) and Detroit (Friday).