SAN FRANCISCO — Al Horford missed his seventh consecutive recreation Monday night time, however the veteran large man’s absence could possibly be nearing an finish.
“I think he’s got a chance to play the Christmas game,” coach Steve Kerr stated earlier than the Warriors tipped off in opposition to the Orlando Magic.
Horford, 39, has been coping with proper sciatic nerve irritation that has prevented him from enjoying since Golden State’s Dec. 4 loss at Philadelphia. General, the Nineteenth-year heart has missed 17 of the Warriors’ first 30 video games this season, 11 as a result of situation in his decrease again.
One of many Warriors’ marquee additions this previous offseason, Golden State signed Horford so as to add dimension on protection, spacing on offense and management within the locker room. The settlement got here with the understanding that Horford wouldn’t play video games on back-to-back days.
Even inside these restricted parameters, the wedding hasn’t paid dividends when Horford has been on the court docket. Within the 13 video games Horford has performed, the Warriors are 7-6 and he has averaged 5.6 factors and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per recreation, on tempo to set profession lows in every class.
Melton’s minutes
The Warriors’ different main offseason acquisition, De’Anthony Melton, continues to progress in his return from the knee surgical procedure that ended his season final yr.
Melton made his season debut on Dec. 4 and has averaged 6.7 factors and a couple of.2 assists in 18 minutes per recreation. The 27-year-old level guard has performed fewer than 20 minutes in 4 of the six video games he has appeared in getting into Monday night time.
Kerr, nevertheless, stated that was extra a product of the Warriors’ rotation — and crowded backcourt — than a minutes restriction that was injury-related. Rick Celebrini, the crew’s coach, not too long ago cleared Melton to go “a few minutes” above 20.
“He’ll probably continue to play in the range that he is playing,” Kerr stated.
