Warriors Get Major Injury Update Before Pelicans Game

The Golden State Warriors face the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

Golden State will be without Stephen Curry (knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness). Three additional players are listed as questionable: Draymond Green (lower back soreness), Al Horford (toe), and De’Anthony Melton (knee).

The Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 128-117 on Sunday without Curry, Porzingis, and Green. Now they face the possibility of being even more short-handed.

What the Injury Report Means

Green missed Sunday’s game with lower back soreness.

His status for Tuesday is uncertain. Green has dealt with various minor injuries all season. The Warriors are being cautious with him given his age and the long season ahead.

Horford and Melton are both listed with injury management. Horford is dealing with a toe issue. Melton has been managing knee soreness. Neither player has played both games of a back-to-back this season.

The Warriors face the Pelicans on Tuesday and the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. That creates a decision for head coach Steve Kerr. He can rest Horford and Melton on Tuesday and play them Wednesday. Or he can stagger them, playing one Tuesday and the other Wednesday.

Horford was excellent Sunday against the Nuggets. He finished with 22 points, six made three-pointers, and seven assists. That performance made NBA history as Horford became the oldest player to record at least 20 points and six threes in a game. The Warriors need him available for at least one of the next two games.

Melton provides defensive intensity off the bench. He is averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game this season. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses matters when the Warriors are missing Curry and Green.

How the Warriors Are Handling This Stretch

The Warriors are 30-27 and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference.

They have been dealing with injuries all season. Curry has missed 18 games. Jimmy Butler is out for the season with a torn ACL. Green has missed time with various issues. Porzingis is still ramping up after making his debut earlier this month.

Golden State has managed to stay afloat despite the absences. Moses Moody has been excellent over the last six weeks. The supporting cast has stepped up. Veterans like Horford and Melton have provided stability when available.

But there is a limit to how thin the Warriors can be and still compete. Tuesday’s game in New Orleans will test that limit. The Pelicans are 16-42 and sit in 14th place in the Western Conference. Golden State should win this game even short-handed. But nothing is guaranteed when you are missing five rotation players.

The back-to-back adds another layer of complexity. The Warriors cannot afford to lose both games. They need at least a split to maintain their playoff positioning. That means Kerr will need to decide which game offers the better opportunity to win and deploy his veterans accordingly.

Final Word for the Warriors

The Warriors released their injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans.

Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis are out. Draymond Green, Al Horford, and De’Anthony Melton are questionable. That puts the Warriors in a difficult position heading into a back-to-back.

Horford and Melton have not played both games of a back-to-back this season. The Warriors will likely stagger their availability over the next two games. Green’s status is less certain. His lower back soreness could keep him out again Tuesday.

The Warriors beat the Nuggets on Sunday without Curry, Porzingis, and Green. Moses Moody led the way with 23 points. Horford had 22 points and six threes. The supporting cast stepped up.

Golden State will need another strong effort Tuesday in New Orleans. The margin for error is thin. But the Warriors have shown they can win games even when short-handed. Tuesday will be another test of that resilience.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins