The Warriors may have caught a break before Saturday’s game at Chase Center, with Orlando losing another starter just hours before tipoff. Desmond Bane was ruled out with an illness, leaving the Magic without three starters against Golden State.
Paolo Banchero, out with an ankle issue, and Jalen Suggs, sidelined by a knee injury, had already been ruled out on Friday. Bane’s late scratch only deepens the hole for Orlando.
Golden State, meanwhile, is dealing with its own injury questions. Draymond Green is questionable with an elbow issue, while Gary Payton II is questionable with a calf injury and Gui Santos is questionable with a knee injury.
The Warriors are also chasing a milestone that has been out of reach for a while. Their last seven-game winning streak came in March 2025, with Jimmy Butler playing a major role in it. Now they’ll try to get to seven straight again while Butler recovers from a torn ACL.
Saturday also gives Golden State a shot at another home mark. The Warriors are trying to win the first five games of their homestand, something they haven’t done since February/March 2023.
After the Magic, they’ll face the Pelicans at Chase Center to finish out the six-game stretch. The last time the Warriors swept a six-game homestand was May 2021.
One of the bigger lineup questions for Steve Kerr centers on how to handle the starting five. Over the last two games, Golden State has opened with Will Richard at what has essentially been a small forward spot. Richard is listed as a guard, just like Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski, so the Warriors have been rolling with a three-guard look that puts Podziemski or Richard on the opposing small forward.
Santos is expected to return at some point as the starting 3, but even if he’s active, he may still come off the bench while he works back from knee tendinitis.
The Warriors have been winning, but that hasn’t erased the concern about their starts. Their current Curry, Podz, Richard, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green group has posted a minus-67.0 net rating in 33 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass.
If Kerr decides to move Richard back to the bench, he has a couple of ways to do it. Charles Bassey could slide into the starting lineup, with Green moving to the 4 and Lendeborg shifting to the 3. Or Kerr could go with Georges Niang, which would add more scoring to the first unit but take away some of the on-ball defense.
There’s also the possibility that this matchup calls for more size. Orlando could open with Anthony Black at 6'7", Tristan da Silva at 6'8", Franz Wagner at 6'10 and Wendell Carter Jr. at 6'10.
No matter how the rotation shakes out, Bassey looks set for a significant role on Saturday.
In Other News...
Stephen Curry Just Reached Another Shooting Mark Few Ever Touch
Stephen Curry added another line to a resume already packed with them at Chase Center, knocking down a three-pointer in his 100th straight game with the Warriors. It came during a first half in which Golden State had help beyond its usual centerpiece, with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandin Podziemski contributing as the Warriors carried a lead into the stretch before halftime.
Orlando, though, did not let the moment turn into a runaway. Franz Wagner and Jamal Cain helped keep the Magic within striking distance and made the game feel competitive well into the second quarter, a reminder that even on a night when Curry reaches a rare shooting milestone, Golden State still has to finish the job against a team willing to hang around. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Mullin Just Raised The Stakes On Yaxel Lendeborgs Hot Start
Yaxel Lendeborgs first nine games have given the Warriors something real to talk about early in the 2026-27 season. The rookie has been producing across the board, averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists while looking like a player who is already comfortable carrying a heavy load. For a team that is always watching for the next homegrown piece, that kind of start naturally gets attention.
Chris Mullin added even more weight to it this week by publicly backing the rookies trajectory. The Hall of Famer said Lendeborg could be in the Rookie of the Year conversation and even projected a ceiling that includes future All-Star and All-NBA status, which is a lot to put on a player this early. It is only one voice, and only a start, but it shows how quickly Lendeborgs opening stretch has turned into one of the more interesting developments around the Warriors. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Just Reopened A Warriors Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Klay Thompsons first game against the Warriors as a member of the Heat had the kind of emotional backdrop that always seems to follow him around the Bay Area. He scored 11 points and added three assists in Miamis loss, but the bigger takeaway came after the final buzzer, when Thompson made it clear he still carries thoughts of a possible reunion with Golden State and appreciates the support he continues to get from fans in the region.
For Warriors fans, that is the part that keeps the conversation alive. Thompson is under contract with Miami now, but he also has a player option for next season, which leaves the door open just enough to keep the speculation going. Even with the move already made, his connection to Golden State has not gone away, and this latest visit only reminded everyone how hard it is to fully close the book on a player who helped define an era. [Read more 🡒]