Heading into the first leg of a road back-to-back series with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors will be featuring a light rotation. With James Wiseman and Eric Paschall in the league’s health and safety protocol for contact tracing, another pair of Warriors status is in jeopardy in Memphis.
After sustaining injuries against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Steph Curry and Kelly Oubre Jr. are listed as doubtful for Friday against the Grizzlies.
Prior to the start of the fourth quarter, Curry fell on a metal area near Houston’s bench after backpedaling. The fall caused curry to suffer a tailbone contusion that sidelined him for the rest of the contest in Houston.
Oubre Jr. injured his foot in the third quarter against Houston while trying to grab an offensive rebound. After playing 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, Oubre Jr.’s foot became sore overnight, causing the guard to miss practice on Thursday, according to Steve Kerr.
Via @NickFriedell on Twitter:
Steph (tailbone) is doubtful. So is Oubre (foot) vs. Memphis. Neither player practiced — Kerr isn’t sure exactly how rotation will look without them. Going to be a real struggle for Warriors to score if they’re both out — given Wiseman/Paschall (COVID protocols) remain out.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 18, 2021
If Curry and Oubre Jr. can’t go against Memphis, the Warriors could call on Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole. Since returning to Golden State from a stint in the G League bubble, Mannion and Poole have blossomed into an exciting backcourt combination.
In five games since rejoining the Warriors, Poole is averaging 19 points on 54% from the field with 2.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per contest. Mannion is averaging 7.8 points on 38.7% shooting from the floor with 3.6 assists in five games since returning from Orlando. With Curry out due to an illness against the Suns, the 2020 second-round received the start at point guard for Golden State.
With a thin rotation, Kerr will have to get creative on Friday against the Grizzlies.
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