Three Warriors make progress toward NBA Finals returns / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II, and Otto Porter Jr. are all progressing nicely, the Golden State Warriors say.

Otto Porter

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They'll slowly be integrated into practice this week. The Warriors are hopeful they each will be ready to play in the NBA Finals.

Gary Payton II is expected to return from a broken left elbow that he injured when Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks committed a hard foul across Payton's head on a layup attempt during the playoffs' second round.

Forwards Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. also are making positive strides toward playing again.

Iguodala has missed the last 12 games dealing with a left cervical disc injury in his neck, while Porter sat out the past two against the Mavericks with left foot soreness.

Like Payton, they are both being integrated back into practice and will be evaluated based on how they do each day pushing a bit more.

"We'll have a better feel after the next couple of days of practice," coach Steve Kerr said Sunday.

The Western Conference champion Warriors just took two much-needed days off before returning to the practice floor Sunday while awaiting the Boston Celtics in the Finals. The best-of-seven series will open in San Francisco on June 2.

Golden State advanced to its sixth NBA Finals in eight years. That puts the Warriors with Bill Russell's Celtics of the 1950s and ’60s, Magic Johnson's Lakers in the 1980s, and Michael Jordan's Bulls of the 1990s as the only teams to do so.

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