Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said recently that he rested superstar forward Kevin Durant to combat Durant’s fatigue. With Durant being the second-leading scorer for the Warriors behind Stephen Curry — and the day of rest Thursday against the Orlando Magic being the first game he has missed this season — the respite was probably long over due.
Fatigue for some players, load management for others (DeMarcus Cousins), and now injury for another: Klay Thompson, who has been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a sore right knee.
His absence will be a blow to the Warriors.
With Thompson on the floor, the Warriors have lost four of their last six games, despite his 40 percent shooting from three-point range and 24.2 points per game since the All-Star break.
The Sixers will be shorthanded tonight, too, with center Joel Embiid ruled out due to tendinitis in his left knee. But based on the Warriors’ poor play of late, Embiid’s absence provides no advantage for Golden State and Thompson’s absence creates no even slate. In Embiid’s absence, forward Tobias Harris has stepped up big for the Sixers, averaging 21.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in the eight games he has played for Philly this season.
For the Warriors to win this one, Curry will have to put on a splash show from beyond the arc, Durant will need to have a monster offensive showing and Cousins will need to be a beast on transition defense.
