Durant added to Warrior injured list, joining Thompson, Curry

The Warriors lead the NBA, scoring 115.7 point per game. But more than 62 percent of that scoring comes from the combination of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, each of whom Golden State will be without for an extended period of time.

The reigning champions have not had the services of Curry since March 8, when he sprained his oft-twisted right ankle. Thompson joined the ranks of the unavailable injured when he fractured his right thumb in Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves, the same game in which Durant suffered a rib injury.

While the severity of Thompson’s injury was known almost immediately, Durant did not believe his injury was serious enough to cost him time, and he played 36 minutes Wednesday.

On Friday, the Warriors discovered that Durant suffered a fracture as well. He will be out for at least two weeks, according to USA Today’s Sam Amick.

Curry, who averages 26.3 points per game played, will be re-evaluated on March 20 and Thompson, averaging 19.7 points per contest, will be re-evaluated two days later and is likely out for another two weeks. There is a definite possibility that the Warriors (52-16), chasing the West’s current No. 1 seed Houston Rockets (54-14), could be without the three All-Stars until the end of March, or more than eight games.

Without the 72.6 points per game contributed by the high-scoring trio, Golden State is left with a single player averaging 10 or more points — Draymond Green (11.2).

Making matters worse, Green himself was held out of Wednesday’s victory over the Lakers with a sore right shoulder. David West (7.1), Andre Iguodala (5.7), Jordan Bell (4.9) and Patrick McCaw (3.7) are each shelved as well.

During their current historic run of success, the Warriors have thrived on overcoming adversity. This may be too much of an ask, though. Missing three All-Stars, three of the game’s very best players, keeping in contact with the surging Rockets may no longer be in the cards.

The one thing the Warriors, head coach Steve Kerr and new active leading scorer Nick Young (6.7) have going for them is the upcoming schedule. Five of Golden State’s next nine games are against teams, in the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks, with three of association’s four worst records.

Last modified March 16, 2018 10:17 pm

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