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All eyes are on Klay Thompson as the Golden State Warriors prepare to host the Toronto Raptors in a critical Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Will he or won’t he play?
Thompson injured his hamstring during the Warriors’ Game 2 victory over the Raptors, which tied the series at a game apiece. And on Tuesday the five-time All-Star was officially listed as questionable for Wednesday’s contest.
Now, with the game just a few hours away, Thompson and the Warriors are at slight odds. The team would prefer that he sit, to ensure that he’s fully healthy for Game 4 and beyond. Thompson, ever the competitor, is pushing to play. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.
Reporting with @ramonashelburne: Golden State officials prefer Klay Thompson sit out Game 3 to protect his sore hamstring for the rest of NBA Finals, but Thompson has continued to lobby them on playing tonight. Decision looms prior to tip.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2019
The team usually wins in these circumstances. A training staff is able to remove emotion from it a little better than a player is, and they are the health professionals.
But still. If Thompson has it his way, he’ll be playing. And there’s still a chance.
The Warriors are already without Kevin Durant and Kevon Looney for Game 3. Andre Iguodala is banged up, and DeMarcus Cousins is playing just his third game since injuring half in April.
If Thompson doesn’t play, Steph Curry and the Dubs certainly have their work cut out for them.