SAN FRANCISCO — Gary Payton II (elbow), Andre Iguodala (neck) and Otto Porter Jr. (foot) are questionable for Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday, coach Steve Kerr said.
All three participated in a full contact practice Wednesday afternoon at Chase Center.
Porter and Iguodala were seen doing work on court during the last 30 minutes of Warriors practice as Payton sat on the sidelines talking with Kerr, general manager Bob Myers and the team’s director of sports medicine and performance Dr. Rick Celebrini.
“We’ll see how they turn up tomorrow but it’s a good sign all three had contact today,” Kerr said.
Porter missed the last two games of the Western Conference finals series against the Mavericks with a foot injury suffered in the first half of Game 3. He was spotted after practice Tuesday getting in some additional shooting. And Iguodala hasn’t played since the first-round series against the Nuggets as he’s nursed a disc injury in his neck, though he’s been praised throughout the postseason for his mentorship.
Payton has extended his range of motion in his left (shooting) elbow, which he broke after a nasty incident in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals May 3 when Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks took a full swing at him as he soared through the air on a layup attempt, sending the 28-year-old to the ground.
Payton said Tuesday he’s “starting to feel normal but still not me.” He’s taking it day-by-day to “see what happens” and hoping for the best.
“Still got a lot of boxes to check off,” Payton said, though he declined to divulge any further details. “But working every day to get back out there and help the team. Hopefully that time comes.”
The undermanned Warriors could benefit from the NBA Finals’ schedule, which includes two days off between games except for Game 3 and 4, when there’s only a one-day break.
Payton, with his defensive prowess, length and athleticism, would provide a mega boost for the Warriors in their NBA Finals matchup against the gritty Celtics. He could be another option for the Warriors to pin against Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
“If he is back, I think that’s a huge bonus for us,” Draymond Green said.
Likewise, Porter has played well, when healthy, throughout the playoffs as one of the first players off the bench. He adds an extra layer of rebounding and timely shooting for the second unit. In 13 playoff games, he’s averaged 5.5 points on 46.7% shooting and 4.1 rebounds.
And though Iguodala hasn’t made much of an impact on the court due to his injury, the Warriors would welcome back his backup playmaking abilities and on-court leadership.
Asked about his own status for the series, Iguodala quipped, “Just trying to finish the season walking on two feet. If I do that, then it’s been a successful season.”
