SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA- DECEMBER 28: Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala #9 warms up earlier than their NBA sport in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
SAN FRANCISCO — Simply as one identify falls off the Warriors’ damage report, one other one seems. On Sunday in opposition to the Utah Jazz, it was Andre Iguodala’s flip.
Iguodala, 37, was dominated out (left hip damage administration) for Golden State’s fourth of seven straight video games at residence. With a time off after back-to-back video games, the Warriors had been anticipated to get Otto Porter Jr. and Klay Thompson collectively for the primary time in three contests however Thompson (knee soreness) was a late scratch.
The scheduled relaxation days are all a part of the Warriors’ plan to peak across the time they begin their postseason push.
Together with his third time off up to now 4 video games, Iguodala has been the veteran whose load the Warriors are most intently managing. Together with an 11-game stretch that he was compelled to overlook with swelling in his proper knee, Iguodala has sat out practically as many video games (22) as he has performed (25).
The Warriors are additionally being cautious with Porter, 28, who hasn’t performed a full season in 4 years, and Thompson, 31, who remains to be constructing again to full power after two years away with ACL and Achilles accidents. Neither will play each legs of a back-to-back, however with a purpose to maintain one of many sharpshooting wings out there always, they are going to alternate relaxation days, as they did this week with Thompson taking part in Thursday in opposition to Indiana and Porter on Friday in opposition to Houston.
Thompson arrived on the enviornment Sunday anticipating to play and went via stroll throughs within the morning earlier than Dr. Rick Celebrini, the director of efficiency, knowledgeable Kerr that Thompson shouldn’t play that night time. He felt a “tweak” in his left knee, which was surgically repaired in July 2019 after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Nonetheless, Kerr mentioned the late scratch was “nothing too regarding” and “simply a part of cautiousness.”
Iguodala and Thompson joined Draymond Inexperienced (decrease again) and James Wiseman (proper knee rehab) on Golden State’s damage report for its sport in opposition to the Jazz, who had three starters and two key reserves’ standing in query.
Main scorer Donovan Mitchell (concussion protocol) was dominated out; reigning defensive participant of the 12 months Rudy Gobert (sore left ankle), reserve heart Hassan Whiteside and backup guard Trent Forrest (bruised proper hip) had been listed as questionable; and beginning capturing guard Bojan Bogdanovic (left finger pressure) was listed as possible.
The Warriors and Jazz are two of the highest 4 groups within the Western Convention, however they've but to face off at full power.
Golden State was additionally lacking Inexperienced, who was in COVID protocols, for his or her first assembly: a 123-116 street win that featured 20-point performances from Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Porter. The Warriors had been additionally lacking Thompson for that first assembly, in addition to Damion Lee, who was again Sunday.
Whether or not Inexperienced is ready to return for the third assembly of prime Western Convention foes may very well be a measuring stick for his progress in his restoration from decrease again issues which have already price him the previous 9 video games. He's scheduled to be re-evaluated on the finish of this residence stand, which wraps up Saturday in opposition to Brooklyn, and the Warriors head to Utah for Spherical 3 simply over every week after that.