Golden State Warriors: 'Doesn't matter' Dillon Brooks suspended for Game 3

After Game 2, the Golden State Warriors didn't hold back being displeased about Dillon Brooks' flagrant foul on Gary Payton II. They took a different tone Thursday.

Payton is out for the series after a left elbow fracture so the Warriors' anger faded to disappointment. Brooks being suspended for Game 3 Saturday (7:30 p.m., ABC) brought indifference, not satisfaction.

"Doesn't matter. Gary's out for the foreseeable future or weeks. That's the only thing that matters to us," coach Steve Kerr said.

"It is what it is," added forward Otto Porter.

With the series tied 1-1, the Warriors shifted focus to defending Ja Morant. Morant scored 34 and 47 points in the first two games and is shooting better on 3-pointers (39.8%) than Stephen Curry (37.4%) or Klay Thompson (22.7%).

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Without Payton or Andre Iguodala, who will be re-evaluated in one week with a neck injury, the Warriors won't have two of their better defenders available. Morant is also no stranger to feeling comfortable at Chase Center.

He scored 30 points in the Memphis Grizzlies' 104-101 win in November and had 21 points in a Dec. 23 loss, his second game back from knee injury. Of course, he also had 35 points in last year's play-in game at Chase Center to help end the Warriors' season.

Whoever the Warriors put on him will have their hands full, especially since Morant is capitalizing both at the rim and being left open on 3-pointers. Kerr said that he could turn to Damion Lee or rookie Jonathan Kuminga to help on defense but it'll be a combination of options.

Brooks' absence could open things for Curry to have a big scoring night as well.. But the Warriors were less concerned about him and more concerned with slowing down Morant.

"It's not going to be one guy trying to shut him down," Kerr said. "It's a team effort and obviously without Gary, we've got a tougher job on hour hands. We just have to go out and do it.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Golden State Warriors: 'Doesn't matter' Dillon Brooks is suspended for Game 3