Despite entering the NBA Finals as the biggest underdog in recent memory, the Cleveland Cavaliers caught a break on Wednesday when Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala was ruled out for Thursday's Game 1 of the series with what is being called a "left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise."
According to Warriors' public relations, Iguodala was evaluated by the team's medical staff on Tuesday after missing the final four games of Golden State's Western Conference Finals series with the Houston Rockets. While the evaluation showed that the veteran forward is making progress, the pain continues to persist, as does inflammation of the nerve surrounding his left knee. Although he has been ruled out for Game 1, he will be re-evaluated prior to Sunday's Game 2.
A 6-foot-6 forward, Iguodala has played a key role for Warriors throughout the past four seasons -- each of which has ended with an NBA Finals date vs. the Cavaliers. In 2015, he earned NBA Finals MVP honors after averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while also defending LeBron James in Golden State's six-game series victory over Cleveland.
Without Iguodala -- who alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson makes up the Warriors' 'Hamptons Five' lineup -- available, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has relied on starting lineups featuring third-year forward Kevon Looney. After initially falling behind Houston 3-2 in the conference finals without Iguodala, Golden State rallied back to win the final two games of the series to clinch a fourth consecutive Finals appearance against Cleveland.
The Cavs, meanwhile, continue to await word on one of their own key players, as Kevin Love's status for the start of the Finals remains to be determined after a concussion kept him out of Cleveland's Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. As of Tuesday, the All-Star forward remained in the NBA's concussion protocol, according to head coach Tyronn Lue.
Game 1 between the Cavs and Warriors will take place in Oakland on Thursday night. Tip-off is slated for 9 p.m. ET.