Oakland, CA – Golden State Warriors forward David Lee played in Thursday's game against the Denver Nuggets less than two weeks after tearing his right hip flexor.
Lee did not have surgery after suffering the injury in Game 1 of this Western Conference quarterfinal series, but was still supposed to miss the remainder of the playoffs.
He was not in the starting lineup for Game 6, but made an appearance in the first quarter. He only played 1:27 and missed the only shot he took, though the Warriors still won the game and advanced to the conference semis.
Lee was fouled by Denver's JaVale McGee less than 30 seconds into the fourth quarter of Game 1 and landed hard on his right hip. He remained in the game and split a pair of free throws, but clutched at his hip after hitting the second and had to be escorted to the bench before heading to the locker room.
Over 79 games during the regular season, Lee averaged 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists and was rewarded with a spot on the Western Conference's All-Star team.
The 6-foot-9 forward led the NBA with 56 point/rebound double-doubles this season en route to becoming the first Golden State player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963-64 to top the league in such a category.
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