At this point, it feels like the only thing that will keep the Warriors from a three-peat is injuries.
So when Klay Thompson injured his knee on this play against Orlando, there was concern.
Here’s the play that Klay Thompson tweaked his right knee. Looks like some knee-to-knee contact on the side, then it bangs down on the court. pic.twitter.com/4q6NjMLbTa
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 3, 2019
The good news is the MRI came back clean, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
MRI on Golden State Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson's right knee returned clean, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 4, 2019
Thompson is expected to be day-to-day with a return based on how quickly he regains range of motion in his knee, league sources said. https://t.co/VmxG2xu1n9
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 4, 2019
That’s good news for the Warriors, who are the top seed in the West but only 1.5 games ahead of the Nuggets. Golden State would like to keep home court throughout the West playoffs (whether they would have home court in the Finals depends on which team comes out of that open field).
Steve Kerr has leaned on Kevon Looney as the backup center behind DeMarcus Cousins because of Looney’s athleticism and consistency (it’s the second thing that keeps him in front of the erratic Jordan Bell), but the Warriors may be without Looney for a little while.
Sources: MRI on Warriors‘ Kevon Looney’s pelvic injury revealed a strain and he will be day-to-day, with return based on strengthening and rehab.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 4, 2019
Looney already was out for the game against the Sixers on Saturday and is clearly going to miss more time. Bell will be the man for now, and eventually it looks like Andrew Bogut could get some of those minutes when he comes over.