Oakland (California, USA), .- The Golden State Warriors completed their first training at the Oracle Arena in Oakland ahead of the Third Game of the NBA Finals to be played tomorrow, Wednesday, against the Raptors of Toronto and in which the forward Kevin Durant will continue down.
While there is optimism that the guard Klay Thompson, who was injured in the fourth period of the second game played on Sunday at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, although the final decision will not be known hours before the start of the game, there is optimism that that is in the initial five.
At least that’s what they said this afternoon Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Thompson, who were optimistic about their participation in the next game that puts one of the two teams with the partial advantage in the series that is tied (1-1) and the best of seven will be decided.
“Kevin (Durant) is going to be left alone on the track after we finish the training, but he was with us in the video session and get more treatment from the physiotherapists,” Kerr explained. “It is certain that he will not play in the Third Party, but he improves and we will update his evolution”.
Kerr had already advanced before the Second Game, which was played on Sunday, that Durant could train only once and then return to the team.
After the Third Game is played on Wednesday, both teams will train on Thursday and the fourth of the best-of-seven series is scheduled on Friday.
More optimism generates the injury of the muscular pull that Thompson suffers in his left leg that forced him to leave the field in the fourth period of the Second Game that in the end, the Warriors, won at home by 104-109.
“My position is that we have to wait to see how it evolves in the next 24 hours and although I am optimistic, it will be a decision before the game,” said Kerr. “We all know how Klay (Thompson) acts in this type of situation, he never leaves the team and he sacrifices himself as the most”.
Thompson, who finished Sunday’s game as the top scorer to get 25 points before getting injured, is also optimistic and although he understands that he has to wait to see how it evolves, his feeling is that he will be ready.
“It will be a decision when the time comes to jump on the track,” Thompson said. “But for me, personally, it would be difficult not to see me play, I hope that tomorrow I feel much better and that it is a good option in order to help the team.”
But both Kerr and Thompson reiterated that the pain will not be an impediment to play, if the physiotherapists warn that there may be a risk that it will break completely and then can not play the rest of the NBA Finals.
“The medical team and physical trainers will be the ones who decide in order to see if it is better to go out and play in the Third Party or wait for the Fourth,” said Thompson.
Who can not be with the team for the remainder of the Finals is the center Kevin Looney, injured in the second game with a fracture of the first rib cartilage on the right side of the rib cage.
The costal cartilage connects the sternum to the ribs and is a lesion that requires time and rest so that a good bone weld can be given.
Without Looney, a guarantee on the bench of the Warriors, which gave rest to the top men, Kerr will have to be more dependent on the center DeMarcus Cousins, who had an outstanding performance in the Second Game, the first that he played since he was injured on April 18 at the start of the playoffs.
“I’m sorry for Looney, because his contribution has been very important to us throughout the season,” said Kerr. “But we have to focus on the players that are available on the bench and who are also ready in each game to give their full support.”
While the Warriors’ last injury front is veteran guard Andre Iguodala, the hero of the second game that scored the decisive 3-pointer that secured the victory, and which is still not fully recovered with the discomfort suffered in the left calf.
“These two days of rest, although we trained again, has been especially beneficial for Andre (Iguodala), who is slowly overcoming the discomfort and as the hours pass he feels stronger and more confident,” Kerr added. EFE)
