SACRAMENTO — Stephen Curry didn’t accompany the Warriors on their 90-minute bus journey right here late Tuesday night time, and by the point Golden State tipped off Wednesday towards the Kings, Draymond Inexperienced and Jimmy Butler had additionally been dominated out.
With none of the group’s prime three gamers, coach Steve Kerr opted to insert rookie guard Will Richard, second-year middle Quentin Put up and taking pictures guard Moses Moody into the beginning lineup alongside Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga.
“Obviously it’s more difficult when you’re missing your stars, but it’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys,” Kerr stated earlier than the sport, including that he was trying to see “energy, pace” from the makeshift group. “Throwing the ball ahead, playing aggressively on offense. Defensively, containing penetration and keeping the easy stuff away, just trying to put a good 48 minutes together. I’m excited.”
The duty was made considerably simpler by the Kings’ equally packed damage report. Already with out Keegan Murray (offseason surgical procedure), Sacramento additionally dominated out Domantas Sabonis (left rib cage contusion) and Zach Lavine (low again soreness).
Podziemski was listed as questionable with a sore left wrist however was cleared to play earlier than tipoff. Inexperienced was coping with bruised ribs and Butler a sore decrease again that prevented him from enjoying the second half Tuesday night time, however Kerr was optimistic each gamers can be again Friday in Denver.
Curry was again residence at his Atherton property recovering from an sickness that worsened in a single day, based on Kerr.
“Hopefully there aren’t too many games where we’re missing all three of those guys at the same time,” Kerr stated. “It just sort of happened. Steph got sick. Jimmy hurt his back. Draymond as well not feeling well. The schedule kind of caught up to us. The hope would be, going forward, when those guys miss games, it’s not at the same time, because that puts you behind the eight ball.”
