Otto Porter Jr.’s nagging left foot injury is still affecting him.
The veteran Warriors forward will sit out Thursday night’s Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks. The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports' Chris B. Haynes and confirmed by Warriors coach Steve Kerr before the 6 p.m. PT tip-off which can be heard on 95.7 The Game.
Porter had to exit in the second quarter of Game 3 with the injury after he landed on a layup attempt, before being sidelined for Game 4.
"Otto's absence is a really big deal," Kerr said. "That'll open up the door more minutes for the guys who come off our bench, for sure."
Porter was averaging 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 23.6 minutes while making 9-of-11 field goal attempts in the first two games of the series before he got hurt. Not only does Porter give the Warriors a shooting threat who can space the floor and wait for dishes from the paint, but he also gives the team a solid rebounding option off the bench.
The Warriors are aiming to close out the series Thursday night at Chase Center after the Mavericks shot the lights out in Game 4 to cut the series deficit to 3-1. If Golden State can’t win Thursday, attention would turn to Porter’s availability for Saturday’s Game 6 in Dallas. If the Warriors win, they’d get a week off before the Finals start on June 2.
Porter, 28, has dealt with left foot and toe issues during the 2018-19 seasons. Given his recent injury history that also included back issues, the Warriors signed Porter to a veteran minimum deal this past offseason. The team avoided playing Porter for both games of back-to-backs during the regular season and he appeared in 63 contests, his most since the 2017-18 campaign.
Porter’s playoff production has ramped up since Game 3 of the Memphis Grizzlies series in the second round, as he scored 13 points in that contest and double digits in four of his five complete contests since. But he had to sit out Game 6 of that series with right foot soreness.
Warriors general manager Bob Myers recently said that the team is hopeful Gary Payton II (fractured left elbow) and Andre Iguodala (neck) would be able to return for the Finals if Golden State advances.
