Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut will miss the remainder of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to the left knee injury he sustained in Game 5, the team announced Wednesday.
Bogut suffered the injury when Cavs guard J.R. Smith rolled into his knee on a collision under the hoop early in the third quarter Monday. The initial diagnosis was a sprain, but an MRI revealed multiple bone bruises and "significant impaction."
Bogut is expected to be out of action for a minimum of six-to-eight weeks, but will not require offseason surgery.
The 7-foot Aussie has seen his role reduced in the postseason (16.6 minutes per game), as the Warriors have increasingly relied on small-ball lineups, but he's still had a significant impact as a low-post defender, rim protector, rebounder, and passer.
He's yet to miss a game this postseason, and on a per-36-minute basis has averaged 10 points, 12.3 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.5 blocks. His playoff PER (18.1), true shooting percentage (60.7), and block rate (7.6) are all career highs. The Warriors have surrendered nearly 10 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor in the postseason, and have been 4.4 points per 100 better overall.
