Steph Curry and Draymond Green both out for Rockets game
Curry’s knee and Green’s calf will keep them out Thursday as the Warriors try to break their five-game losing streak
The Golden State Warriors have dropped five straight games, four of which they’ve led in the fourth quarter. If they want to break their losing streak against the Houston Rockets Thursday night, they’ll have to do it without Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
Steph Curry and Draymond Green are both out for the Warriors tomorrow night vs Rockets. Bilateral knee management for Curry. Still listed as left calf tightness for Green, who underwent an MRI/tests today to determine extent of injury. Andrew Wiggins questionable.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 5, 2024
Curry is out with “bilateral knee management” which basically means, he’s 36 years old and has sore knees. Green’s injury is more concerning. On his podcast, he told Baron Davis the injury made him “a little afraid,” because it reminded him of the back injury he suffered during the 2021-22 season.
"I'll be 100% honest; I'm a little afraid"@Money23green gets honest with @barondavis about his calf injury and reveals why he's addressing it now instead of fighting through it pic.twitter.com/f9HfgbiyJ2
— The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis (@DraymondShow) December 3, 2024
That injury kept Green out for 30 games during that championship season, time he mainly spent in the training room. The Warriors are still awaiting results of Green’s MRI, but he and the team are being cautious right now.
It’s going to test the Warriors’ vaunted depth to play without two starters, especially with De’Anthony Melton out for the year. Golden State has had problems finding a reliable ball handler behind Curry since Melton went out. Second-year guard Brandin Podziemski is frustrating his coach with his decision-making, Andrew Wiggins isn’t exactly a distributor, and Pat Spencer is a lacrosse player. Losing Curry and Green represents 12.6 assists per game.
The answer Thursday might be “Point Slow Mo.” Kyle Anderson might need to run the offense in the absence of other reliable options. It’s going to be tough sledding against a Rockets team that’s second in the NBA in defensive rating, one that forces 15.5 turnovers per game. The one silver lining is that the Rockets are the fifth-worst three-point shooting team in the league, which should make the Warriors’ recent lapses in three-point defense less punishing.
Curry will likely be back for Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who play twice at the Chase Center this weekend. That will be the best indication of the severity of Green’s injury. No matter what the MRI says, you’ll know Green is truly banged-up if he passes up a chance to play against Rudy Gobert.