OAKLAND, Calif. — The initial hit caused Klay Thompson plenty of pain. The final diagnosis delivered another blow to him and the Golden State Warriors as they prepare for the NBA Finals.
Two days after he got kneed in the head by Houston’s Trevor Ariza, the Warriors said Friday that Thompson has a concussion and will not return to practice until he is symptom free.
NBA FINALS
Game 1: Thursday at Golden State, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: June 7 at Golden State, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Game 3: June 9 at Cleveland, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Game 4: June 11 at Cleveland, 9 p.m. (ABC)
*Game 5: June 14 at Golden State, 8 p.m. (ABC)
*Game 6: June 16 at Cleveland, 9 p.m. (ABC)
*Game 7: June 19, Golden State, 9 p.m. (ABC)
* – if necessary
The All-Star guard went through neurological tests that confirmed the concussion. He was injured in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 104-90 win over the Rockets in the Western Conference finals clincher Wednesday night.
The NBA Finals start Thursday against Cleveland. And while the Warriors are optimistic Thompson will be cleared before then, he must pass through the league’s concussion protocol first.
“This break has turned out to be good for us,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said after Friday’s practice. “And maybe good for Cleveland, too, because they’ve got some injuries. It’s just something we’ve got to work through and we’ll see how it goes.”
Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving has been slowed by knee tendinitis and a sore foot, and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James has been banged up as well.
But neither of those injuries seems as serious as the one the Warriors are facing now.
ROCKETS: Center Dwight Howard was suspended for one game Friday after getting his fourth flagrant foul point in the postseason.
Howard will serve the suspension in the first game next season that he is physically able to play.
The foul in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals was ruled a common foul during the game, but was upgraded to a flagrant foul 1 after a review by the league office. It came when he made what the NBA called unnecessary contact with his forearm to the neck area of Golden State’s Andre Iguodala.
MAGIC: The team’s next chapter will be led by one of its most familiar faces.
General Manager Rob Hennigan introduced former player Scott Skiles as the franchise’s 12th coach, beginning what they hope will be the turning point in their latest rebuilding project.
The 51-year-old Skiles was a member of the Magic’s inaugural team in 1989-90 and played point guard for a total of five seasons in Orlando as part of his 10-year playing career.
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