OAKLAND -- Rookie Pat McCaw will make his first career start Tuesday night, when the Warriors face the Miami Heat at Oracle Arena, coach Steve Kerr said in his pregame news conference.
McCaw is starting at shooting guard in place of Klay Thompson.
"Klay was sick the last couple games," Kerr said. "He's just run down. And he just needs a night off. I think it'll be really good for him, and he'll be ready to go (vs. Detroit) Thursday."
Despite being listed on the injury report will an illness last Friday, Thompson played 42 minutes against Memphis. He played 36 minutes Sunday at Sacramento.
McCaw recently shed an illness that forced him out of the lineup for games of Dec. 30 and Jan. 2. Just prior to that, the 6-foot-7, 185-pound UNLV product played in one game with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the Development League.
Kerr said he felt no need for a pregame talk with McCaw, whose composure has been one of his more impressive attributes.
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"We told him this morning he'd be starting," Kerr said. "We have a lot of confidence in him. And I think sometimes if you talk to a guy, you just make him more nervous. Sometimes the best way to go is just to throw him out there and let him play."
McCaw has come off the bench in 28 games and his averaging 2.6 points per game.
