The Golden State Warriors will get some much-needed frontcourt depth back on Tuesday night, as bigs James Wiseman and Kevon Looney are both on track to return for Golden State's matchup with the New York Knicks.
According to The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Wiseman and Looney were full participants at practice today in New York on Monday. The Warriors have yet to officially declare both players active for Tuesday.
Head coach Steve Kerr said Looney will “probably” start at Madison Square Garden, per Slater.
Looney has missed the previous 10 games with a sprained ankle, having last played on Feb. 2. Prior to his injury, he had started five games in a row for the Warriors. Looney averaged 3.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 16.6 minutes per game.
On Saturday, ahead of Golden State's game against the Charlotte Hornets, Kerr was optimistic that both centers would be ready to return by Tuesday.
“It’s a real possibility,” Kerr said, via Connor Letorneau of the San Francisco Chronicle. “They’re both doing well.”
The rookie has missed 11 games in a row with a sprained wrist. In his first 20 career games, the 19-year old center was putting up 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21 minutes per game. He's shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three-point range on just over one attempt per game.
Stephen Curry is also expected to return to the Warriors lineup on Tuesday after sitting out the matchup with his hometown Hornets at Spectrum Center due to an illness.
Golden State is 16-15 on the season.
The frisky Knicks (15-16), on the other hand, remain short-handed in their frontcourt, as Mitchell Robinson is out with a hand fracture.
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