The Golden State Warriors head into Philadelphia tonight with one of the longest injury reports of their season.
Seven players appear on the list ahead of their matchup against the 11-9 Philadelphia 76ers, and several of them are core rotation pieces. At 11-11 and trying to stay afloat in a packed Western Conference, Golden State suddenly faces a major depth test on the road.
The biggest name, of course, is Stephen Curry. The 37-year-old star guard remains out (left quadriceps contusion) after exiting injured in the recent loss to the Houston Rockets. An MRI confirmed there was no serious structural damage, but the team is taking a cautious approach with its franchise player. Head coach Steve Kerr has already ruled Curry out for the Warriors’ entire three-game East Coast road trip, and the earliest possible return is next Friday’s home game against the Timberwolves.
Curry has been playing at an All-NBA level again this season, averaging 27.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game on 47.1 percent shooting from the field. His impact is obvious in the numbers: Golden State scores 119.1 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, compared to just 106.5 when he sits, a massive 12.6-point swing. The Warriors are 2-4 without Curry so far this year, and Thursday will be another chance to see whether they can manufacture enough offense without the greatest shooter in league history.
Jimmy Butler III is the other headliner on the report. The veteran forward is listed as questionable (left knee soreness) after exiting early in Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Butler has been Golden State’s leading scorer this season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, while also setting the tone defensively on the wing. His status will be monitored closely throughout the day; if he cannot go, the Warriors lose both their primary on-ball creator and their most physical perimeter defender at the same time as Curry.
The frontcourt is just as banged up. Veteran big man Al Horford is on the report (back/sciatic nerve issue) and is listed as out or questionable depending on the latest update. Jonathan Kuminga is questionable (ankle injury), Trayce Jackson-Davis is questionable (knee), and center Quinten Post is also questionable (left ankle sprain). All three have been important in different ways: Kuminga as an athletic, attacking forward averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds; Jackson-Davis as an energetic rim-runner and rebounder; and Post as a floor-spacing big who has helped stabilize bench lineups.
On the wing, rookie forward Alex Toohey is already ruled out (knee) and will not play against Philadelphia. Toohey has been more of a depth piece than a key rotation player, but his absence further shrinks Steve Kerr’s options if the questionable names are ultimately held out or placed on minutes restrictions. Altogether, the possibility of playing without Curry, Butler, Horford, Kuminga, Jackson-Davis, Post, and Toohey gives Golden State the feel of a patchwork lineup heading into one of the toughest road environments in the league.
The challenge is magnified by the opponent. The 76ers also have a lengthy injury report: Joel Embiid is listed as doubtful with a knee issue, while Paul George and Quentin Grimes are among the other names dealing with problems of their own, but Philadelphia still comes in at 11-9 with enough firepower to punish a short-handed opponent. Tyrese Maxey has taken another step as a primary option, and the Sixers’ depth has stabilized after a rocky stretch, giving them multiple ways to attack a depleted Warriors squad.
For Golden State, the silver lining is reinforcements in the backcourt. De’Anthony Melton is expected to make his season debut after recovering from an ACL tear that kept him out for over a year. His return, combined with the recent addition of Seth Curry and the steady play of Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, gives Kerr more options to generate offense and maintain defensive pressure at the guard spots.
Still, there is no question that the Warriors will need a collective effort to stay competitive. Draymond Green will be asked to do even more as a facilitator and defensive anchor, while role players such as Gary Payton II, Buddy Hield, and Will Richard may see expanded minutes depending on how the injuries shake out. With their record sitting at an even 11-11 and the Western Conference standings tightly packed, every result matters, especially against another team fighting for playoff positioning in the opposite conference.
Whether all seven players ultimately sit or some are cleared before tipoff, Golden State knows it is entering Thursday’s contest severely undermanned and with the 76ers as heavy favorites. The Warriors have already shown flashes of resilience, fighting back from 22 points down against the Thunder in their last loss and stealing games without Curry, but this matchup against the 76ers will demand another level of focus as Philadelphia is expected to come out on top.
