Klay Thompson to miss Warriors' game with 76ers due to sore knee

Klay Thompson will be out for the Golden State Warriors on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday as he rests to deal with a knee injury.

Coach Steve Kerr told reporters ahead of the game that Thompson's knee is "inflamed enough where it doesn't make sense to play him", as the Warriors bid to avoid a third straight loss.

Alfonzo McKinnie will start in place of the five-time All Star, who will be missing only his second game of the season, having also missed the other match against the 76ers in which his side were beaten last month.

Thompson initially injured himself during the Warriors' 103-96 loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday when he banged his knee on the floor.

Kerr revealed Thompson will likely undergo an MRI when the team returns to the Bay Area on Sunday, adding that the 29-year-old did not feel any pain until Friday morning.

Thompson is averaging 22 points while shooting 47 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three-point range.

Kevon Looney is also out for the Warriors, who enter the game at the top of the Western Conference with a 43-19 record, while the 76ers are 40-22 and fourth in the East.

Injury report for tonight's game at Philadelphia: Klay Thompson (right knee soreness), Kevon Looney (right pelvic soreness) and Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are out.

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 2, 2019