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Klay Thompson's high ankle injury was one bad enough to keep him out of Game 2, despite playing 34 of the last 36 minutes of action after emerging from the locker room and all five overtimes minutes, totaling 45 in Game 1 of the series.
While it was believed he did so mostly running on adrenaline, Thompson assured he was fine, but was seen limping out of the arena after the Warriors survived a 124-114 overtime thriller.
“He wasn’t supposed to play,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said on his walk out of Oracle Arena, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. “But that’s Klay. He only knows one way.”
The Warriors' motor wasn't shy about saying so — Thompson was a very likely no-go after having severe swelling in his ankle after J.R. Smith tumbled into his legs, getting his ankle caught as he barreled to the floor.
Article Continues Below“I thought there was no chance Klay was playing,” Green said. “I saw him [Saturday] and saw his ankle, and I was like, ‘Yeah, no chance.’”
Yet Thompson's miraculous recovery wasn't a matter of luck or a magic potion, but rather constant and diligent treatment, which has made him the iron man of this roster, playing 73 or more games in each of his last six seasons with the team.
“I’m not used to sitting on the training table,” Thompson said. “At this point, it’s any means necessary.”
While Thompson is mainly a standstill shooter, who occasionally takes a few jumpers off the dribble, he also would be tasked with defending several Cavaliers — something that would put his mobility to the test.
“My game isn’t changing,” Thompson said. “I’m still going to try to get buckets, hit shots, come off screens.”
Thompson responded with yet another consistent outing — 20 solid points in 34 minutes, including an efficient 8-of-13 from the floor and some shining fourth-quarter moments.
“He loves this game and wants to be out there for us,” his backcourt partner Stephen Curry said.
