Steph Curry, Klay Thompson both questionable for Game 1 vs. Rockets
The problem with the Golden State Warriors needing six games to eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round is the unnecessary wear and tear, and potential injuries.
Unfortunately for them, the latter is going to be an issue heading into Game 1 of a heavily anticipated second round matchup against the Houston Rockets on Sunday at Oracle Arena. Both Splash Brothers — Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — are questionable with sprained ankles suffered in the Warriors’ Game 6 win over the Clippers on Friday, according to head coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr says Klay and Steph came in this morning for treatment on their sprained ankles. He says both players are questionable for Game 1. He wants to see how both respond to more treatment before game time.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 27, 2019
Kerr also called Thompson’s sprain “significant.” According to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, Thompson’s ankle is in “pretty bad shape,” and there was “talk in the locker room” after the game about how bad it looked.
Curry rolled his ankle in the first quarter of Friday’s game. He left for the locker room, but returned in the second quarter. He told the media after the game that his ankle was fine and that he would be ready for Sunday.
Thompson’s sprain occurred in the third quarter on a drive to the rim. He, too, received treatment in the locker room but returned to the game. Like Curry, he said he would be ready to go on Sunday.
But obviously, the day-after diagnosis has not convinced the Warriors that their premier shooters are good to go for the opener of the Rockets series.
Warriors have themselves to blame
It would be a significant hit, considering the Rockets are arguably the Warriors’ biggest roadblock to another trip to the Finals. Last season, they took the Golden State super-team to the brink, taking a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals before the Warriors came back.
What’s more, Houston is well-rested, flying to the Bay Area to await their next opponent before the Warriors even finished the first round because the Rockets took just five games to eliminate the Utah Jazz in the first round. It will be a quick turnaround for the Warriors, who only have a day off on Saturday ahead of a 3:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Oracle Arena.
And they might be without two of the best shooters in the world. If the Warriors run into immediate trouble against the Rockets, they can only blame themselves for a lackluster first round effort.
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