In the world of basketball, the Golden State Warriors are navigating a few bumps on their road trip, and coach Steve Kerr is keeping a watchful eye on the situation. The team is without their big man, Kristaps Porzingis, who’s been sidelined by an illness. Porzingis, who joined the Warriors in a trade involving Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, missed the recent victory over the Nuggets and stayed back as the team traveled to New Orleans and Memphis.
Kerr shared an update from the Smoothie King Center, expressing cautious optimism about Porzingis' recovery. “He’s just been really sick, but making some improvements, so we’ll see how he is,” Kerr remarked, leaving the door open for Porzingis' potential return against the Lakers when the Warriors head back to the Bay Area on Saturday. But as always in sports, nothing is set in stone.
On a brighter note, Draymond Green is back in action. After sitting out the win over the Nuggets due to lower back soreness, Green is ready to rejoin the starting lineup against the Pelicans, with no minutes restriction holding him back.
Meanwhile, De’Anthony Melton is also set to play, though he remains on a minutes restriction as he works his way back from an ACL tear. Kerr hinted that this limitation might soon be lifted, saying, “I guess he’s closer, because we’re getting deeper into the season, and he’s feeling pretty well.” The decision will come after further discussions with the team’s head of sports medicine, Rick Celebrini.
Looking ahead, the Warriors face a demanding schedule in March with three sets of back-to-back games. This poses a challenge, especially with Al Horford and Porzingis not participating in consecutive games. Horford, taking his turn to rest, sat out the game in New Orleans but is expected to be back on the court against Memphis.
The absence of Steph Curry, who’s out until at least March with runner’s knee, is palpable. Known for drawing crowds with his pregame shooting routines, Curry’s absence was noticeable in the sparsely populated Smoothie King Center, where just over a hundred fans gathered during warmups. Typically, thousands would fill the lower bowl to catch a glimpse of Curry’s drills, and tickets for this game were surprisingly affordable, with the cheapest seats going for just $24 shortly before tip-off.
As the Warriors continue their journey, they’re navigating these challenges with the poise and strategy that have defined their recent seasons. Fans will be watching closely, hoping for the return of their stars and the continuation of their winning ways.