Andrew Wiggins, a forward for the Golden State Warriors, suffered a left costal cartilage fracture during the team’s Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Though he participated in a portion of the day’s shootaround, Wiggins will have to see how his injury feels during pregame routines before a final decision on his availability for Game 6 is made. The team believes he suffered the fracture halfway through the fourth quarter of Game 5 after he finished the game with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Sources told ESPN that after the game, Wiggins was in visible pain in the locker room. Though he told the team he would be okay, an MRI scan revealed the costal cartilage fracture. The injury comes at a critical moment for the Warriors, as they face elimination, trailing 3-2 in the series against the Lakers. Wiggins has been essential on both offense and defense, with coach Steve Kerr calling his performance in Game 5 his best since his return from a two-month absence at the start of the playoffs.
Should Wiggins not play, his absence would be a significant loss for the Warriors. With the forward guarding LeBron James and contributing on offense, the team will need to find a way to compensate without him. It remains to be seen whether Wiggins will be deemed fit to play, and the team will have to make a final decision on his availability before the start of Game 6.
