The Warriors’ backcourt is taking a hit just as the wins keep piling up.
Golden State rolled past the New Orleans Pelicans by 51 points on Monday to stretch its winning streak to eight, but the injury report is starting to crowd up. Brandon Williams exited late in the first quarter after a layup and played less than two minutes before leaving with a hamstring injury. The team said Tuesday that he has a mild strain and will be re-evaluated in a week.
Gary Payton II is also out for Wednesday’s game in Houston against the Rockets while he deals with knee inflammation.
That makes it two straight games in which a Warriors guard has gone down. Will Richard suffered a torn UCL in his thumb during Saturday’s win over the Orlando Magic, and he is listed as questionable for the Houston game. As of Monday, Richard and the team were still waiting to determine whether surgery would be necessary.
Williams and Payton both came to Golden State on free-agent deals this offseason. Payton is a familiar face in the Bay Area, having spent parts of the last seven seasons with the Warriors, while Williams joined after a three-year run in Dallas that helped establish him in the NBA.
If Richard, Williams and Payton all sit against Houston, Steve Kerr will be left with Steph Curry, De’Anthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski as the only healthy guards on the roster.
Williams has averaged 10.4 points in 16.1 minutes through his first 10 games with Golden State. After the trip to Houston, the Warriors will head to San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas and Memphis over the next week-plus.
In Other News...
Warriors Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Off The Bench
The Warriors lopsided win over the Pelicans still came with a potentially meaningful setback off the bench, as Brandon Williams exited with a left hamstring injury. Golden State said Williams will undergo an MRI, with a further update to come after the team gets more information on the extent of the issue. It was another reminder that even in a comfortable night on the scoreboard, the details matter for a rotation that has been leaning on depth.
Williams has been in his first season with the Warriors and had scored four points before leaving the game, a brief but useful stretch before the injury cut his night short. For a team trying to keep its bench steady through the long haul, the next report on his status will be worth watching closely, especially if the hamstring issue lingers beyond this one game. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Suddenly Face A Bench Problem They Can't Ignore
Gary Payton IIs night ended almost as soon as it began against the New Orleans Pelicans, when the veteran guard went down with a left hamstring injury in the first quarter and was ruled out pending further imaging. For a Warriors team that leans heavily on Paytons defense, energy and versatility off the bench, the timing could hardly be worse, and Steve Kerrs concern after the game reflected just how quickly a useful rotation piece can become a question mark.
With the staff waiting to learn the full extent of the injury, Golden State will have to patch together those minutes in the meantime. LJ Cryer is the guard expected to absorb a larger role off the bench, and the Warriors will need that second unit to hold up while Paytons status remains unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Draymond Decision That Could Shake The Curry Era
The Warriors are already being pushed toward some uncomfortable roster questions as they look for ways to keep their championship window open around Stephen Curry. One possible avenue under discussion is Kristaps Porzingis, whose availability is complicated by symptoms tied to an autoimmune disorder called POTS, but the bigger conversation may be closer to home with Golden State weighing broader changes before the deadline.
Draymond Green is at the center of that uncertainty, since he is on an expiring contract and could become part of a larger shake-up if the front office decides the current mix needs a reset. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the mere possibility of moving a longtime cornerstone speaks to how seriously the Warriors are approaching this stretch and how much pressure there is to maximize the Curry era while there is still time. [Read more 🡒]