The Warriors are heading into tonight’s matchup with the Clippers short-handed, and the biggest names on the injury report won’t be suiting up. Stephen Curry is out for rest, Draymond Green is sitting with a back issue, and Steve Kerr said the call came down to recovery after a demanding stretch.
“I really leave it up to Rick [Celebrini] and Rick, talking to Steph and Dray, felt like today was the better day to give them some time to recover coming off that trip. You know, a long trip, then it was a quick turnaround with the game the other night so that today would be a good choice,” Steve Kerr said.
Kerr also made it clear this isn’t a blanket rule for every back-to-back. The Warriors are treating it as a case-by-case situation rather than locking Curry and Green into a fixed pattern of absences.
“Doesn’t mean this is what will happen every time; we’re literally taking things week by week, and the guys are responding well, so we’ll see what happens next,” Kerr added.
The timing leaves Golden State in a tough spot. Curry, at 38, is still producing like a star in his prime, averaging 29.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 47.7% from the field and 44.0% from three through the first five games. Green, meanwhile, has been filling up the stat sheet in his own way, averaging 7.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.0 points while shooting 37.5% from the field and 28.6% from deep.
With both veterans out, the Warriors will have to find answers on both ends from their younger players. Al Horford is the only key veteran expected to play tonight, though that means he’ll sit out tomorrow’s home game.
That next game comes quickly: the Warriors host the Suns on November 2 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Barring any last-minute setbacks, Curry and Green should be available for that one.
The absence of Jimmy Butler remains part of the bigger picture for Golden State as well. Butler is expected to have the longest recovery path after tearing his ACL late last season, but he has rejoined team activities from the sidelines and stays close to the bench.
Curry spoke about Butler after the Warriors’ win over the Lakers in the previous game, and he was clear about what that presence means.
“It’s always great to see him on the bench, even Moses. Know that they’re working extremely hard to get back as soon as possible. It’s our job as a team to stay in the moment and keep building, giving ourselves a chance to be relevant midway through the season.”
“We know what the challenge is. So, I’m sure in the back of our minds when we see him, there’s an inflated confidence that when he does come back, he’s going to provide for him and us getting back to himself. But we have a lot of work to do to give him an opportunity to play meaningful basketball, as we always say around here.”
“So, yes and no. We’ve got a long way to go, but it is always great to have him around, and he gives us hope that we can be that team when he returns,” Curry concluded.
For now, the Warriors are dealing with the reality of a battered roster and a packed early-season schedule. They’ll need to survive tonight without Curry and Green, then hope the lineup looks a lot healthier tomorrow.
In Other News...
Clippers Just Got A Harsh Look At Golden States New Threat
The Clippers got a first-hand reminder that Golden State may have another young scorer worth tracking in Yaxel Lendeborg. The Warriors rookie put up 37 points against Los Angeles, the highest total by a Golden State rookie since Steph Currys 2009-10 season, and he did it while playing 34 minutes and adding 4 rebounds and 6 assists. For a Clippers team trying to measure itself against the West's better clubs, that kind of breakout from a first-year player stands out.
Steve Kerr did not sound surprised by the burst, and his postgame view only adds to the intrigue around Lendeborgs early rise. The Warriors coach praised what he has already shown while also making clear there is still plenty of room for growth, which is exactly the sort of warning sign opponents do not love hearing in November. For the Clippers, it was a harsh look at a new threat, and perhaps only the first one. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Defensive Problems Exposed Again By Warriors Breakout Night
The Clippers ran into another rough defensive night as Golden State kept rolling, extending its winning streak with a 124-112 result that never really let Los Angeles settle in. The Warriors got a breakout performance from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who was everywhere offensively and set the tone for a group effort that kept the Clippers chasing for much of the night.
DeAnthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski each played important supporting roles, while Charles Bassey, Brandon Williams and Al Horford all chipped in to keep the pressure on. For the Clippers, the bigger concern is less the final margin than the pattern it reflects, with too many opponents finding ways to create clean looks and control stretches of the game against them. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Jones Jr. Is Making The Clippers Look Smarter By The Game
Derrick Jones Jr. has given the Clippers exactly the kind of early return teams hope for when they lock in a role player on a three-year deal. Signed in 2024, he has settled into the rotation as a two-way piece who brings energy, length and a little more scoring punch than expected, giving Los Angeles a useful jolt on both ends through the opening stretch of the season.
What has stood out most is how cleanly his game is fitting into what the Clippers need around their main options. Jones has been efficient from the floor, active on the glass and disruptive defensively, which is the kind of profile that can quietly change the shape of a game. The bigger question now is how far that impact can go when the matchups get even tougher. [Read more 🡒]