Jonas Jerebko gives Warriors unexpected lift off the bench

OAKLAND — Jonas Jerebko played a total of 16 minutes in the Warriors’ first seven playoff games and didn’t get off the bench in the Western Conference semifinal opener against the Houston Rockets.

So, naturally, when Steph Curry left Game 2 with a finger injury after just 3 1/2 minutes, it was Jerebko that coach Steve Kerr sent into the game.

“My name was called. I just tried to come in and help the team,” Jerebko said. “This is what I work for, to come into games like this and contribute.”

Scoreless in the postseason to that point, the 6-foot-10 forward from Sweden contributed almost immediately, cashing in a missed shot by Klay Thompson with an emphatic running putback dunk.

Golden State Warriors Power Forward Jonas Jerebko with the put back two-hand poster dunk!

HELLO NBA!!!!#GSWvsHOU #HOUvsGSW #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #TNT#NBAPlayoffs2019 #Warriors pic.twitter.com/24X9VyFgM9

— AV (@Ash_Vanderbilt) May 1, 2019

Two minutes later, Jerebko scored on a layup off a pass from Andre Iguodala for a 19-8 lead.

Teammate Kevon Looney called him “fearless.”

Curry returned — tape around his dislocated left middle finger — with 5:12 left in the quarter, but Jerebko had more than justified Kerr’s belief in him.

In the 3 minutes, 19 seconds Jerebko subbed for the two-time MVP, the Warriors extended a 10-5 lead to 19-8, thanks in part to his four points and three rebounds.

“I think Jonas is a good matchup in this series,” Kerr said. “He came right in and gave us a good lift, a couple buckets, some rebounds. Steph’s early injury allowed us to plug him in pretty early. I thought he was great.”

Iguodala, who has spent most of the past few seasons coming off the bench, appreciates Jerebko’s professionalism.

“He’s keeping himself ready,” Iguodala said. “He wants to help, he wants to produce. Sometimes he tries too hard, but you can never be upset at a guy trying too hard. He knows how to play the game.”

Jerebko finished with four points and five rebounds in just under 10 minutes on the floor.

“Shoutout to Jonas Jerebko,” Thompson said. “The man hasn’t played since the last series. He came out and made a huge impact tonight.”

Jerebko said he planned to be in the gym Wednesday even through Kerr canceled practice.

“You’ve got to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” he said. “Just be ready for the game and see how many minutes I get, if I get minutes. Whatever. I’m just trying to help this team. Whatever it takes.”