The Golden State Warriors will enter their upcoming home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder without star players Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. This match is particularly significant as it is part of a back-to-back set of games for the Warriors.
Player Absences for the Game
As of Friday evening, here’s a breakdown of the players missing the game:
- Stephen Curry: Suffered a minor lateral ankle sprain during the Warriors’ recent victory in Charlotte, which has sidelined him.
- Jimmy Butler: Initially not listed as injured, Butler was added to the report due to an illness on Friday morning.
- Draymond Green: Taking a scheduled rest day.
- Jonathan Kuminga: Ruled out with lower back soreness.
Upcoming Schedule
This game against the Thunder is critical as it follows a road trip that included matches in Toronto, Brooklyn, and Charlotte. The Warriors will also face the Utah Jazz the following night. They are optimistic that Curry, Butler, and Green will be ready to play against Utah.
NBA Player Participation Policy
Notably, both Curry and Butler have been recognized as All-Stars in the past three seasons. Under the NBA’s new player participation policy, their absence could lead to a fine of $100,000 if the league perceives the reasons as unjustified.
Warriors’ Recent Performance
Despite recent setbacks, the Warriors have shown resilience, winning five of their last six games. Their current record stands at 18 wins and 16 losses. A significant portion of their upcoming schedule is home-based, with ten of their first eleven January games to be played at their arena.
The Friday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder will be streamed on Prime Video, providing fans with easy access to watch the game.
