OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Warriors might lose one of their most dependable shooters. The Warriors definitely lost one of their most dependable role players.
Warriors reserve forward Kevon Looney will be out indefinitely for the NBA Finals after an MRI and CT scan revealed a non-displaced first costal cartilage fracture, according to league sources. The Warriors consider Klay Thompson as questionable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday after an MRI confirmed a strained left hamstring, sources said.
Thompson had missed the final 7:59 of the Warriors' Game 2 win over Toronto on Sunday about two minutes following a missed 3. Looney had an MRI and CT on Monday after missing the entire second half of Game 2 because of a left chest contusion. Looney had already received X-rays late Sunday night, and those results turned out negative. The results of their medical tests were not available until Monday evening since the Warriors took a cross-country flight after Game 2 and landed in Oakland around 4 a.m. PT.
Without possibly Thompson and Looney, the Warriors will become further tested on their depth. The Warriors have yet to clear Kevin Durant to practice after missing the past seven playoff games because of a strain in his left calf. Stephen Curry (dehydration), Andre Iguodala (banged head) and DeMarcus Cousins (rustiness stemmed from a 14-game absence with a left quad injury) are also fighting through different ailments. Those players, along with Draymond Green, will be expected to elevate their game. Same thing for Quinn Cook and Alfonzo McKinnie because of Thompson's injury. Same thing for Andrew Bogut, Jonas Jerebko and Jordan Bell because of Looney's injury.
Despite their respective injuries, both Thompson and Looney sounded encouraged when they spoke late Sunday night to Bay Area News Group.
Thompson has overcome injuries in past seasons, including playing for all of the 2018 NBA Finals after Cleveland J.R. Smith collided into Thompson's left ankle in Game 1. Looney became saddled with overlapping hip injuries in his first two seasons, but has he remained durable leading into his current injury.
Thompson described himself as "good" following Game 2 before admitting that his hamstring "is just tight." Looney shared similar optimism despite admitting that his chest "hurts pretty bad right now." That pain persisted on Monday, leaving him with little help that he can return at any point during the NBA Finals.
Looney had averaged career-highs this season in points (6.3), shooting percentage (62.5 percent), rebounds (5.2) and playing time (18.5), leading Kerr to say recently that he considers Looney to be one of the team's "cornerstones." Looney will become an unrestricted free agent and has considered re-signing with the Warriors to be his first priority. Considering the possibility Looney will attract lucrative offers elsewhere, the Warriors may be willing to spend since they have his so-called Bird Rights, which enables to team to spend over the salary cap.
As for Thompson, he plans to receive treatment during Tuesday's practice. It is not immediately clear Warriors coach Steve Kerr would require Thompson to complete a practice before returning just as he has for Durant. No wonder Thompson had mixed feelings on his availability for Game 3.
"Honestly, it's hard to say," Thompson said after Game 2. "Thank God we got a couple of days off. But I think I'll be good to go."
