Steve Kerr spoke to reporters after the Warriors’ loss to the Magic on Saturday night and said Klay Thompson’s last-second scratch with left knee soreness was precautionary.
Klay Thompson was announced as a starter during pregame introductions moments before the Warriors tipped off against the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, but when the players took the court, the four-time NBA champion was nowhere to be seen.
After going through his normal warmup routine before the game, Thompson reported soreness in his surgically repaired left knee to the Warriors' training staff, who made the decision to hold him out of the game, coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Golden State lost 115-101 to Orlando.
Kerr made it clear this isn't a long-term issue for Thompson, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his NBA career recently.
"You're talking about a guy who's had two major injuries in the last few years, so stuff like this happens," Kerr said. "You get a little bit older and you've suffered some injuries, you're more susceptible to aches and pains. So just something we have to deal with."
The Warriors sorely missed Thompson's offensive production against the Magic, who dominated from wire-to-wire as they swept the season series from the defending NBA champions.
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Over his last three games, Thompson averaged 38.3 points, the highest three-game average of his career, per Stat Muse. That three-game stretch included a 54-point eruption in the Warriors' double overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Thompson played a season-high 46 minutes in the game.
The good news for Thompson and the Warriors is that they have two days off before they wrap up the eight-game homestand against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
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