Warriors’ Andre Iguodala tabbed to start another big game
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made the most dramatic adjustment of the thrilling, seven-game Western Conference finals, subbing Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup in place of Harrison Barnes on Monday night.
Iguodala held four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant without a field goal for the game’s first 6:15.
The Thunder’s All-Star forward also missed the final two attempts of his 19-shot performance on a night when Steven Adams, Serge Ibaka and Andre Roberson were tempted into taking 11 shots apiece.
Commish refutes conspiracy: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took to the airwaves to deny a conspiracy theory suggesting the league preferred that the Warriors, not the Thunder, play in the Finals.
The theory’s main contentions are about Warriors power forward Draymond Green not being suspended for his kick to the groin of Adams and Ticketmaster accidentally posting a premature advertisement for a Golden State-Cleveland Finals matchup on the league’s Facebook site.
Monday night’s game was the first Game 7 in Oakland in 40 years, since Rick Barry and the Warriors lost to Phoenix in the 1976 Western Conference finals.
Barry raved about Thompson’s release on his jump shot, saying it might even be quicker than Curry’s.
Warriors forward Draymond Green, an MSU alum, became a mentor of sorts for Valentine during his time with the Spartans.