Steve Kerr said Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala will all be listed as questionable heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
Gary Payton II reportedly is on track to be available to play for the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported, citing sources, that Payton is on course to suit up at Chase Center.
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Payton has been out with a fractured left elbow since he suffered the injury in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies on a Flagrant 2 foul by Dillon Brooks. Brooks was handed a one-game suspension for the foul, and coach Steve Kerr said Brooks "broke the code" with the unnecessary contact.
On Wednesday, Kerr stated that Payton, Andre Iguodala (neck) and Otto Porter Jr. (foot) would all be listed as questionable for Game 1. All three players were full participants in the Warriors' practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In 71 games this season, Payton averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 61.6 percent from the field.
Payton started the first two games of the series against Memphis before getting injured. In seven career playoff games, Payton has logged 6.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest.
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If Payton does return Thursday night, the Warriors are getting a needed reinforcement on defense as they prepare to face Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics.
