Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have dominated the injury news surrounding the Golden State Warriors. However, it’s not just the “Splash Brothers” who have been hampered by the injury bug.
Draymond Green has missed 12 games and counting this season. Adding another to his list, Green has been ruled out with a pelvic contusion for Sunday night’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. Green has been absent from games this season with a back, finger, heel and ankle injuries.
Draymond Green (pelvic contusion) is out tonight vs. the Pelicans. Alen Smailagic has been recalled from Santa Cruz.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) February 23, 2020
The former Defensive Player of the Year will miss the 2019 top draft pick Zion Williamson’s first game against the Golden State Warriors.
Eric Paschall has a chance to fill the role of Green, but behind the Villanova rookie, options are slim for Steve Kerr. Golden State’s coach will have to call on two young power forwards in Alen Smailagic and Dragan Bender off the bench.
Smailagic, only 19-years-old, has bounced back and forth between the Warriors G League affiliate in Santa Cruz and Golden State. The Serbian rookie has averaged 10 minutes per game in 13 contests this season.
The newest member of the Warriors, Bender, could see minutes in his first game in Golden State. Bender signed a 10-day contract with Golden State just hours before the Warriors are slated to tip-off against the Pelicans. Formerly with the Milwaukee Bucks, Bender has only played in seven games this season with his last appearance coming on Jan. 24.
Without Green, the Warriors will need all the help they can get as the Pelicans have won four of their last five contests. Since Williamson’s made his debut in late January, New Orleans has been victorious in seven of his 11 games. A combination of Paschall, Bender and Smailagic will get the task of slowing down the Duke product.