The Warriors head to Houston on Wednesday night riding a wave that’s hard to ignore: eight straight wins, an 8-3 record, and Stephen Curry in full scorch mode at 30.6 points per game. Golden State’s first road stop of a five-game trip comes against a Rockets team that’s matching that 8-3 mark and just handled the Denver Nuggets 110-100.
But the headline on the injury report is Will Richard, and it’s a strange one. Richard is listed as questionable even after suffering a left thumb UCL tear in the overtime win over the Orlando Magic.
That kind of injury usually comes with a much longer recovery window, so his quick return to contention stands out. For now, his status looks headed for a game-time decision.
Golden State’s list of absences is still plenty long. Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Brandon Williams and Kristaps Porzingis are all out, while Julian Phillips and Quadir Copeland are unavailable because of G League commitments.
The Warriors are coming off a blowout of their own, a 138-87 demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans. Curry, Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg each scored at least 23 points, combining for 73, and Golden State piled up 37 assists on 50 made field goals.
Houston, though, brings a different kind of challenge. Kevin Durant is averaging 21 points per game while taking just 12.3 shots a night, Alperen Sengun leads the team at 21.3 points per game, and Jabari Smith Jr. is scoring 17.3. Durant also came out of the Nuggets game with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, a near triple-double that underlined how central he’s become.
The Rockets will also be thin up front. Steven Adams and Clint Capela are both out, leaving Houston short on center depth for this matchup.
Jimmy Butler III (Right ACL repair/surgery): OUT
Moses Moody (Left patellar tendon repair/surgery): OUT
Gary Payton II (Left knee inflammation): OUT
Kristaps Porzingis (Not with team): OUT
Will Richard (Left thumb UCL tear): QUESTIONABLE
Brandon Williams (Left hamstring strain): OUT
Steven Adams (Right soleus strain): OUT
Clint Capela (Right ankle sprain): OUT
Quadir Copeland (G League assignment, two-way): OUT
Julian Phillips (G League assignment, two-way): OUT
In Other News...
Marcus Smart Let Another Rockets Discipline Problem Boil Over
Marcus Smarts latest flashpoint came in a tense stretch of the game against Golden State, when the veteran guard was tossed after things got physical with Charles Bassey. The confrontation erupted late in the third quarter and ended with Smart throwing a punch that missed, but the officials had already seen enough to send him straight to the locker room.
For Houston, it was another reminder of how quickly discipline issues can tilt a night off course. Bassey did not hide his frustration afterward, calling Smart dirty and questioning his toughness, and the league now has a decision to make on a play that went beyond ordinary playoff-style edge and into something that could carry a real cost. [Read more 🡒]
Amen Thompson Faces A Huge Chance To Answer Rockets Doubts
Amen Thompsons season has been a little harder to pin down than the early hype suggested. The Rockets still value his size, speed and versatility, but his defensive impact has slipped and his offense has not been as efficient, leaving more room for questions about how quickly he is settling into a bigger role. Opposing guards and wings have had their moments against him lately, with LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker and Jamal Murray all finding success in recent matchups.
Now comes a chance that can swing the conversation back in his favor. Houston is about to see Thompson tested in a marquee defensive assignment, the kind of assignment that can either reinforce the doubts or remind everyone why the Rockets are so intrigued by his upside. If he can handle the challenge, it would give his season a badly needed lift and offer a cleaner answer to the uneven stretch he has been working through. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets May Finally Have To Address Their Steven Adams Problem
Steven Adams was supposed to give Houston a rugged, stabilizing presence in the middle, but injuries have made that hard to count on. Over two seasons with the Rockets, he has played only 90 games and has appeared just once this season, leaving the team to lean on other options at center while trying to keep the rotation intact.
The bigger issue now is whether Houston can keep patching that spot without making a move. A more dependable backup center has become a real need, and the front office may have the kind of trade flexibility to go get one if it decides the current setup is too fragile to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]