Stephen Curry will not be available against the Washington Wizards as his return from a broken hand injury has been postponed. For the Golden State Warriors, Curry is not the only player injured with Washington in town.
A trio of players were ruled out against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, giving Golden State an eight-man bench. However, the Warriors slim rotation didn’t matter as the team fought back from an 18 point deficit to snap Golden State’s eight-game losing streak.
The Warriors did not have a true point guard against the Suns, with Damion Lee getting the primary duties as ball-handler. Against the Wizards, Jordan Poole is expected to return from his one-game absence due to an ankle injury.
The Warriors will have (somewhat of) a point guard tonight. Jordan Poole has been cleared to play.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 1, 2020
Prior to being injured, the Michigan Wolverine product started the past four games at point guard for Steve Kerr, averaging 15.8 points on 45.6 % shooting from the field, while dishing 4.4 assists per contest. Without Curry and Ky Bowman, Golden State’s rookie should get a bulk of the minutes at point guard against Bradley Beal and the Wizards.
Although Poole is will be back in the rotation, three members of Golden State’s frontcourt are listed as questionable with the Wizards in San Francisco.
Draymond Green has missed three of the Warriors’ past four games due to injury and will be a game-time decision against the Wizards, according to Wes Goldberg of the Mercury News.
Draymond Green will be a game time decision. Jordan Poole will play.
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) March 1, 2020
Recently, Green has missed two games with a pelvic contusion and was ruled out against the Suns with a sore knee.
Adding to the Warriors list of ailments, Alen Smailagic and Kevon Looney are both dealing with injuries against Washington. Looney is coming off his second double-digit scoring effort of the season, but is questionable with left hip soreness in the second game of a back-to-back.
Green, Looney and Smailagic are questionable tonight. Poole is probable.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 1, 2020
Smailagic was called up from the Warriors G League affiliate in Santa Cruz as Golden State deals with injuries across their roster. Yet, the Serbian rookie is dealing with a right quad contusion and is questionable against Washington.
Warriors recall Alen Smailagic from Santa Cruz pic.twitter.com/1W8G5jrbey
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 2, 2020
With three members of Golden State’s rotation questionable, Eric Paschall and Dragan Bender will be in line for heavy minutes against the Wizards.