NBA Finals: Klay Thompson Questionable, Kevon Looney Out, Kevin Durant Return?

The Golden State Warriors are facing a major injury crisis going into Game 3 of the NBA Finals against Toronto Raptors with Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney now joining Kevin Durant on the sidelines. The series is tied at 1-1 after the Warriors beat Raptors in Game 2 at the Scotiabank Arena on Sunday 109-104.

The win in Toronto came at a cost as Looney missed the entire second-half after suffering a fractured collar bone during a Kawhi Leonard drive. In the immediate aftermath of the game, the player was hopeful of returning for Game 3 but following an MRI, it was confirmed that the center will be out indefinitely.

“Forward Kevon Looney, who did not play in the second half of last night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals due to an upper body injury, underwent an MRI exam today in the Bay Area. The MRI indicated that Looney has suffered a non-displaced first costal cartilage fracture (right side). He will be out indefinitely,” a statement from the Warriors read.

Thompson, meanwhile, pulled up with a hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter and missed the rest of the game. The shooting guard was confident he will be available for Game 3 claiming that he was fine, while Steve Kerr was hoping for the same but was a little more skeptical.

The Warriors guard has now been rated as questionable after the MRI scan following the game confirmed a minor hamstring strain. Thompson is expected to test his body out in the next two days before deciding if he can play the game on Wednesday.

“Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who exited last night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals with 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter due to left hamstring tightness, underwent an MRI exam today in the Bay Area. The MRI indicated a mild strain of the hamstring. At this point, Thompson is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Wednesday,” the statement from the team added.

It will be a major setback for Kerr if the Warriors are without Looney and Thompson as they are almost certain to be without Durant, who is yet to recover from the right calf strain sustained during the Western Conference semifinals against Houston Rockets. The small forward could, however, return for Game 4 if he takes part in at least one practice session before Friday.

The only positive coming out of Game 2 apart from the win was the return to form of DeMarcus Cousins, who played 28 minutes in just his second game after returning from a quad injury suffered in the first round of the playoffs.