Warriors Get Tough Injury News Ahead of Tuesday’s Kings Game

The Golden State Warriors got Stephen Curry back on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets. Ahead of Tuesday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings, the injury report brought fresh concerns.

Gui Santos has been ruled out.

Santos Ruled Out With Pelvic Contusion

Santos will miss Tuesday’s game against the Kings due to a pelvic contusion, according to ClutchPoints’ Kenzo Fukuda. The injury dates back to March 29, when Denver Nuggets wing Christian Braun kneed Santos during Golden State’s game in Denver. Santos missed the following game against the San Antonio Spurs before returning for the Warriors’ last two games.

He was spotted at practice on Monday and appeared to be moving fine, but the pain from the contusion will be enough to keep him out of the lineup Tuesday.

The timing is far from ideal. Santos has missed just one game since January 20 and has become one of the Warriors’ most reliable contributors. His absence leaves a significant void in the forward rotation at a moment when Golden State is trying to build chemistry ahead of the play-in tournament.

A Crowded Injury Report

Santos is not the only concern on the injury report. Kristaps Porzingis is listed as questionable with knee soreness, while Al Horford and Quinten Post have both been ruled out. Curry is listed as probable after playing 26 minutes on Sunday in his return from a 27-game absence.

If Porzingis is unable to go, the Warriors will be left extremely thin in the frontcourt, with Malevy Leons and Charles Bassey as the primary options. That forces Draymond Green into more forward minutes and opens the door for Bassey to take on a larger role.

Bassey made a solid impression in his Warriors debut on Sunday, finishing with five points, four rebounds, and two blocks in limited minutes. Tuesday gives him another opportunity to make a case for himself.

What It Means for the Warriors

With four games remaining before the play-in begins, the Warriors are not chasing seeding. The gap between them and the ninth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers is too large to realistically close. The focus now is on building the right habits and combinations ahead of what amounts to a must-win elimination game next week.

That makes Santos’ absence more meaningful than the box score will reflect. The Warriors need their best lineups playing together as much as possible before the play-in arrives. Every game without Santos is a game without the forward who figures most prominently in those lineups alongside Curry.

Meanwhile, Nate Williams and Leons will absorb the forward minutes in Santos’ absence. The Warriors will lean heavily on three and four-guard lineups, which may work against the Kings but are unlikely to be a viable option when the play-in begins.

Final Word for the Warriors

Santos is not expected to miss significant time. The play-in is still a week away, and there is reason to believe he will be available when it matters most.

Tuesday is about getting through it. Getting Curry more minutes. Getting the group sharp.

The real games are coming.

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