Warriors’ Andre Iguodala ruled out for Game 1 vs. Cleveland
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Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Image 1 of 8 Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors and fights for possesion with James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 20, 2018 in Oakland, California. less Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors and fights for possesion with James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena ... more Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Image 2 of 8 Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala, left, fouls Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala, left, fouls Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Photo: Tony Dejak, Associated Press Image 3 of 8 Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala celebrates 3-pointer in 4th quarter of Warriors' 103=82 win over Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of NBA Finals' at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, June 11, 2015. less Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala celebrates 3-pointer in 4th quarter of Warriors' 103=82 win over Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of NBA Finals' at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, ... more Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 4 of 8 Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala and Ian Clark react to a Stephen Curry 3-pointer against Portland Trail Blazers in 3rd quarter in Game 4 of NBA Western Conference 1st Round Playoffs at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Monday, April 24, 2017. less Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala and Ian Clark react to a Stephen Curry 3-pointer against Portland Trail Blazers in 3rd quarter in Game 4 of NBA Western Conference 1st Round Playoffs at Moda Center in ... more Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 5 of 8 Image 6 of 8 Buy photo Warriors Andre Iguodala, 9 talks to the media during a practice session at their facility in downtown in Oakland, Ca. on Fri. May 11, 2018. Warriors Andre Iguodala, 9 talks to the media during a practice session at their facility in downtown in Oakland, Ca. on Fri. May 11, 2018. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy this photo Image 7 of 8 Andre Iguodala has been ruled out of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Andre Iguodala has been ruled out of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Image 8 of 8 Warriors’ Andre Iguodala ruled out for Game 1 vs. Cleveland 1 / 8 Back to Gallery
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala has been ruled out for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night against Cleveland with a left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise.
After missing the last four games of the Western Conference finals, Iguodala, 34, was evaluated by Golden State’s medical staff on Tuesday. The Warriors announced that he "is making progress; however, the pain that accompanies the bone bruise persists, as does inflammation of the nerve surrounding his left knee."
Iguodala’s absence is a significant blow to a team chasing its third NBA title in four years. In addition to being a steadying force for Golden State’s offense, he is the team’s best defensive option on LeBron James. After the Warriors lost two of their first three games in the 2015 NBA finals to Cleveland, head coach Steve Kerr put Iguodala in the starting lineup. Golden State won out as he helped hold James to just 39.8 percent shooting for the series.
With Iguodala out, Kevon Looney figures to stay in the Warriors’ starting lineup for Game 1. There is no simple replacement, however, for Iguodala defensively. Draymond Green could guard James, but that would keep Green from doing what he does best: help-side defense. Putting Kevin Durant on James would leave Durant with less energy to shoulder a heavy offensive load.
Iguodala will have two off days to try to get healthy for Game 2 on Sunday.
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron