Warriors’ Lee to miss at least 2 weeks with broken hand
Warriors guard Damion Lee will miss at least two weeks with a nondisplaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
An MRI exam revealed the severity of Lee’s injury, which he suffered during Monday night’s 122108 loss to the Jazz. He will be reevaluated Nov. 26 and miss at least seven games.
This is yet another blow for a team already thinned by injuries. Lee joins an injury list that includes brotherinlaw Stephen Curry (left hand surgery), centers Kevon Looney (neuropathic condition) and Omari Spellman (sprained left ankle), forward Alen Smailagic (sprained right ankle), and guards Klay Thompson (left knee surgery) and Jacob Evans (strained left adductor).
In his second season on a twoway contract with the Warriors, Lee, 27, has emerged as an important rotation player. In 11 games, he was averaging 10 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Underscoring his importance, Golden State devised creative ways to manage his 45day limit with the NBA club. The previous Tuesday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr canceled a practice, in part to ensure that Lee wouldn’t have to count the day against his 45day limit.
Lee has used up 10 of his allotted days with Golden State, and his injury should help him play with the team deeper into the season. Once he reaches the 45day maximum, he’ll be relegated to the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
This is the second time Lee has broken a bone in his shooting hand. During a game against Northeastern in his redshirt junior year at Drexel, Lee got the back of his right hand swatted by an opponent while he went for a layup. He required seasonending surgery.
The recovery timetable for a broken hand can vary, but Curry was expected to miss at least three months after he underwent surgery in Los Angeles in early November. The good news for Lee is that he won’t require surgery.
With Thompson, Curry, Lee and Evans sidelined, the Warriors’ only available guards are D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks, rookie Jordan Poole and twowaycontract player Ky Bowman. Thompson is unlikely to return this season. Curry will be out until at least Feb. 1, and Evans is expected to miss at least a couple more weeks.
Looney will be sidelined until at least Nov. 20. Spellman, who had emerged as Willie CauleyStein’s primary backup at center before he injured his ankle in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma City, is doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Lakers. Smailagic dunked Tuesday, a sign that he is nearing his return.
Asked whether he has seen so many injuries pile up so quickly, Kerr said, “No. And I don’t think that warrants much of an explanation.”