Warriors optimistic Steph, Draymond won’t be out long
SAN FRANCISCO — Without Steph Curry and Draymond Green for the first time all season, the Warriors put their highly touted depth to the test Friday against the Houston Rockets, the first of four straight at Chase Center.
Coach Steve Kerr expressed optimism, though, that their two stars would be back on the court Friday, when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Green missed his second straight game with left calf tightness and underwent an MRI, which revealed no structural damage, the team said. In a news release, the team described his status for Friday as “questionable,” and Kerr added, “I think it’s possible that he’ll play.”
Curry received the night off after posting team-highs with a 24-point, 11-assist double-double in a 119-115 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday. He appeared on the injury report with a bilateral knee injury — or runner’s knee — the same ailment that forced him to sit out last week’s loss to the Thunder.
“Three in four games, he’s in pain,” Kerr said of Curry. “We can’t play him through this stretch every game and expect him to get through it. I thought he looked really good in Denver. To me, he looked more active, more agile. But we have to help him get through the woods on this one. Same thing with Draymond. Otherwise you’re chasing your tail and guys end up missing weeks at a time.”
Kerr said “the plan is for him to play” Friday “but we’re going to see how he feels” after going through treatment.
Seeking to snap a five-game losing streak, Kerr inserted Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield into the starting lineup in place of Curry and Green, alongside Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.
Wiggins’ right ankle landed him on the injury report as questionable but was expected to play.
“It’s enough of an issue that it’s bothering him, but it hasn’t kept him out of any games,” Kerr said of Wiggins’ ankle. “Hopefully that remains the same, and he can take a few steps forward from a pain standpoint and get through this.”
The Warriors entered Thursday 3-1 without Curry and 0-1 without Green, but their matchup against the Rockets was their first test of the season without both their top two players, in addition to De’Anthony Melton, who underwent season-ending knee surgery.
All-time, the Warriors are 23-39 without the duo, including 1-3 last season.
Kerr, who has touted the Warriors’ 12-man rotation, said, “I always enjoy these types of games.
“Obviously I’d rather have Steph and Draymond, but I always like seeing our other guys get opportunities.”