Warriors' Klay Thompson out vs. Celtics with sprained ankle

BOSTON – Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson will miss Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics with a sprained right ankle as the Warriors try to open the season 24-0.

“He’s not well enough to risk it … with where we’re at as a team, we don’t want him fight through it,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said. “Obviously, if it was a playoff game, I’m sure he’d be out there playing. But right now in the regular season, it’s more important that he gets healthy.”

Ian Clark will start at shooting guard for Golden State. It is Clark's first career start.

Thompson injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s 131-123 victory against the Indiana Pacers, a game in which Thompson scored a season-high 39 points.

Thompson is averaging 18.2 points and shooting 44.2% on three-pointers, and after a slow-ish start to the season, he has played well since Nov. 19. In Golden State’s past 11 games, Thompson is averaging 20.8 points and shooting 50% on threes.

The Warriors will also be without forward Harrison Barnes (sprained left ankle), and guard Leandro Barbosa is ill, missed the Pacers game and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.

Could this be the game the Warriors’ winning streak – the most wins to an open a season in NBA history – ends? The Celtics are 13-9, well-coached by Brad Stevens and one of the top defensive teams in the league