Andre Iguodala (leg) ruled out for Warriors in Game 7

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 20: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors and fights for possesion with James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 20, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

One of the big injury questions for Game 7 of Warriors-Rockets has been answered, as Andre Iguodala has been ruled out.

The Golden State Warriors staved off elimination with a Game 6 win at home over the Houston Rockets, which opened up the possibility of forward Andre Iguodala (leg) playing in the deciding Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. But Warriors coach Steve Kerr has announced Iguodala will miss his fourth straight game Monday night.

Iguodola was originally injured back in the fourth quarter of Game 3, when he banged knees with Rockets’ guard James Harden. Despite being considered questionable for Monday night’s game, the 2015 Finals MVP hasn’t seemed to be especially close to playing since going down.

Kevon Looney was listed as questionable for Game 7 himself with a toe injury, but he’ll make his fourth straight start in Iguodala’s place for Golden State Monday night. In those previous three games, Looney has averaged 4.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and one steal per game. Jordan Bell has played at least 17 minutes in two of the three games Iguodala has missed, so he’s in line for more playing time in Game 7 again.

One clear advantage Golden State has over Houston is depth, as Rockets’ coach Mike D’Antoni has gone with a seven-man rotation. Iguodala missing such a critical game is not ideal, but the Warriors have functioned without him and Kerr has decent options to fill the void.

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Iguodala’s status for a hypothetical Game 1 of the NBA Finals later this week is unclear, but at this point he has to be on the negative side of any questionable label. Now, in the hours before Monday night’s game tips off, attention will shift to the condition of Chris Paul’s hamstring and if/how much he’ll play with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line for the Rockets.

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