Kevin Durant Out For Game 3 of NBA Finals; Klay Thompson Questionable
By Liam McKeone
Kevin Durant’s return is not quite here. Steve Kerr announced the forward is out for Game 3, while Klay Thompson is questionable, and Kevon Looney is out for the rest of the series.
Durant suffered a calf strain against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, while Thompson pulled his hamstring near the end of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. Looney took a hard fall just after halftime in Game 2, suffering a collarbone injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Kerr on Game 3:
— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) June 4, 2019
Durant OUT
Looney Out for Series
Iguodala Available
Klay Questionable
It’s going to be a big deal for Golden State if both Durant and Thompson can’t go. The Warriors swept the Blazers without breaking a sweat after losing Durant, but the series against Toronto so far has proven that they do need him to be as dominant as they can be. Thompson, meanwhile, has taken on key defensive assignments and is the only reliable source of offense outside of Steph Curry right now. In his interview after practice, Thompson said it’s “hard” to see him not playing, but he didn’t sound too positive about the situation, either.
Have to say, knowing Klay, this did not sound like he’s optimistic about playing — especially when he followed up with saying “if there’s any pain, it will be a no-go, because of the position we are in. This could be a long series.” https://t.co/VWcq4wrAJX
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 4, 2019
The Warriors are the greatest dynasty of this generation, but the injuries are piling up after years of playing basketball longer than anyone else. This series, as much as we all dislike the idea, may hinge on health more than anything else.