PHILADELPHIA — Golden State Warriors All-Star swingman Klay Thompson will not play Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers because of right knee soreness.
Thompson is scheduled to have an MRI when the Warriors return to the Bay Area on Sunday. He injured the knee during Thursday night’s loss to the Orlando Magic, but is not concerned he will miss an extended amount of time.
“I’m sore but I’ll be all right,” Thompson told ESPN. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it’s definitely better [we] take the right precautions for sure.”
This will be just the second game all season Thompson will have missed. He also missed a Jan. 31 loss at home against the 76ers because of an illness.
“He hurt it during the [Orlando] game; he banged his knee on the floor,” Kerr said of Thompson’s injury. “It didn’t really hurt him until [Friday] morning. It’s inflamed enough where it doesn’t make sense to play him tonight, and our docs will check him out [Sunday] when we go back.”
Alfonzo McKinnie will start in Thompson’s place. Warriors big man Kevon Looney will also miss Saturday’s game because of right pelvic soreness.
“Both are banged up,” Kerr said. “Hopefully short-term for both of them, but we’ll see.”