Though the Golden State Warriors currently hold a lopsided 2-0 series edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, they have done so without one of their key cogs.
Swingman Andre Iguodala sat the final four games of their Conference Finals matchup against the Houston Rockets with a bone bruise in his left knee. Now with the NBA Finals in full swing, the ailment has also kept him out of Golden State’s first two games. However, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Iguodala is still planning a return sometime before the end of this finals series.
Golden State forward Andre Iguodala hasn’t experienced any pain over the last few days and plans to return for the NBA Finals, league sources tell ESPN.
Both Andre Iguodala and head coach Steve Kerr discussed the banged-up forward’s status and seem to be on the same page. Kerr and Iguodala both envision a return for him sometime this series, and maybe even as soon as Game 3.
When approached after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead, Iguodala told ESPN, “I aim to play in Game 3, but I’ve aimed to play in Game 2 and Game 3. We’ll just have to see.”
“I’m optimistic Andre will play at some point in the series,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said on Sunday. “He has gotten better gradually, but there’s no way of knowing for sure at this point.”
Either way, the Warriors have fared just fine without him but his reinsertion into the lineup would give Golden State another body to throw at LeBron James. With Game 3 just days away and the pain reportedly subsiding markedly, we could see Andre Iguodala back very soon.
