SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Second-year Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard has a torn ligament in his left thumb that will sideline him for an undetermined stretch.
The Warriors listed Richard on the injury report Sunday with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and he was out for Monday's game against New Orleans at Chase Center as the team concludes a six-game homestand. Golden State didn't have practice or media availability Sunday, so there wasn't an immediate timetable for Richard's recovery or a known treatment plan.
Richard has been providing key minutes as both a starter and a reserve as Golden State has won seven straight games since an 0-3 start. He made two starts this past week, against Phoenix and Miami.
Stephen Curry has credited the Warriors figuring out their roles to grab some momentum after dropping the first three games.
“Everybody having an impact, throw Will Richard in there, too, he's had three straight games really where he's turned up the energy defensively for us,” Curry said after a 116-113 win over the Suns on Monday. “Defensively he's just been a pest out there.”
The 23-year-old guard was a second-round draft pick last year out of Florida after he led the Gators to a national championship.
Richard is averaging 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 42.9% from 3-point range.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray dealt with the same injury early last season, underwent surgery and missed the first 15 games.
___
