The Golden State Warriors open their Western Conference semifinals series against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, and they're hoping to get a pair of important bench players back for Game 1.
According to Courtney Cronin of the Bay Area News Group, backup forward Matt Barnes is expected to return from an ankle/foot sprain for the series opener, while Livingston is still listed as questionable with a sprained index finger.
After more than a week between playoff games, the Golden State Warriors hope to get injured reserves Matt Barnes and Shaun Livingston back for the Western Conference Semifinals.
Golden State had no issue closing out Portland in four games without those two along with an injured Kevin Durant for half of the series. On Sunday, after missing nearly a month with a right ankle/foot sprain, Barnes said he would be ready to play in Game 1. Livingston, who sprained his right index finger early against Portland, remains questionable for the start of the conference semifinals but is optimistic about his return.
The Warriors top priority is making it through the Utah series without injury so the team can be at full health for what could be a grueling next two rounds.
Barnes' return will give Golden State another quality perimeter defender off the bench, which will be needed against a Jazz team with plenty of scoring options. He averaged 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 games for the Warriors this season.
Livingston, who has missed three straight games with his injury, averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.7 minutes per game this season.
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