SACRAMENTO — Stephen Curry didn’t accompany the Warriors on their 90-minute bus journey right here late Tuesday evening, 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 crew’s high three gamers, coach Steve Kerr opted to insert rookie guard Will Richard, second-year heart Quentin Submit and capturing guard Moses Moody into the beginning lineup alongside Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga.
“Clearly it’s tougher if you’re lacking your stars, nevertheless it’s an amazing alternative for lots of fellows,” Kerr stated earlier than the sport, including that he was trying to see “power, tempo” from the makeshift group. “Throwing the ball forward, taking part in aggressively on offense. Defensively, containing penetration and conserving the straightforward stuff away, simply attempting to place an excellent 48 minutes collectively. 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 taking part in the second half Tuesday evening, however Kerr was optimistic each gamers could be again Friday in Denver.
Curry was again dwelling at his Atherton property recovering from an sickness that worsened in a single day, in keeping with Kerr.
“Hopefully there aren’t too many video games the place we’re lacking all three of these guys on the identical time,” Kerr stated. “It simply kind of occurred. Steph bought sick. Jimmy harm his again. Draymond as properly not feeling properly. The schedule form of caught as much as us. The hope could be, going ahead, when these guys miss video games, it’s not on the identical time, as a result of that places you behind the eight ball.”
