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Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball while being defended by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Golden State Warriors will once again lean heavily on Draymond Green in the frontcourt after two veteran big men were ruled out ahead of Monday night’s matchup with the Utah Jazz.
Veteran center Al Horford will sit out due to left toe injury management, according to the NBA’s official injury report. He joins Kristaps Porziņģis on the sidelines, with the Latvian big man also ruled out because of illness management.
The simultaneous absences leave Golden State thin in the frontcourt and force coach Steve Kerr to rely once again on Green to anchor the interior as the Warriors try to keep pace in the tightly packed Western Conference playoff race.
Warriors Frontcourt Hit by Injuries With Porziņģis, Horford Out
Horford’s absence comes just days after the 39-year-old logged significant minutes during Golden State’s 104-97 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
The veteran center finished with four points on 2-of-6 shooting, along with five rebounds, four assists and one block in 29 minutes. His quiet scoring performance followed a brief offensive surge in which he recorded back-to-back 17-point outings against the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Porziņģis, meanwhile, had just begun working his way into the Warriors’ rotation before being sidelined again. In his most recent appearance against Oklahoma City, the 7-foot-3 center posted nine points, five rebounds, five assists and one block in 23 minutes, offering flashes of the versatility Golden State hoped to add when it acquired him earlier this season.
The Latvian big man has now appeared in only two games since joining the Warriors, highlighting the challenge of integrating him into the lineup as the regular season winds down.
Monday’s contest also opens a back-to-back set, meaning both Horford and Porziņģis could potentially return Tuesday when Golden State hosts the Chicago Bulls.
Draymond Green Embraces Defensive Challenge After Thunder Loss
With the Warriors’ frontcourt depleted, Green once again becomes the focal point of Golden State’s interior defense.
The 36-year-old forward is coming off a strong all-around performance against Oklahoma City, finishing with 16 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
But the game ended on a sour note when Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a late three-pointer over Green to seal the victory.
“I’m disgusted I gave up that three at the end,” Green admitted. “It was too much rhythm. I should have pressed up more. I’m beating myself up about that.”
Despite the frustration, Green said he continues to thrive on taking on the NBA’s toughest defensive assignments.
“I think our coaching staff figured out I have a lot more energy when I get that kind of assignment,” Green said. “Because like I said, if coach calls on me to guard Kawhi, to guard KD, to guard Shai — that’s a badge of honor.”
The four-time NBA champion added that those matchups remain a source of motivation even late in his career.
“I’m 36 years old. Three games straight — that’s a badge of honor,” Green said. “It brings the best out of you when you’re guarding guys like that.”
Warriors Face Urgent Western Conference Playoff Race
Golden State enters Monday’s matchup with a 32-31 record, placing the team squarely in the crowded middle of the Western Conference standings.
According to Tankathon, the Warriors have the eighth-softest remaining schedule in the league with 19 games left in the regular season.
But the standings reveal just how tight the playoff race has become. Golden State is closer to the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers (31-34) — who trail the Warriors by only two games — than it is to the No. 6 Denver Nuggets (39-25), who sit 6.5 games ahead.
That margin leaves little room for error as the Warriors fight to secure a playoff spot rather than falling into the play-in tournament.
The matchup against Utah could provide an opportunity for Golden State to regain momentum. The Jazz are also dealing with frontcourt injuries and will be without Lauri Markkanen (hip), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee surgery recovery) and Walker Kessler (shoulder surgery recovery).
Still, with their own frontcourt depth depleted, the Warriors will once again depend on Green’s versatility and leadership to stabilize the lineup as they push toward the postseason.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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