The most common theme throughout the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season has been injuries. Starting with Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, then hitting almost every player throughout the Warriors roster.
Although Golden State is playing a better brand of basketball, winning four of their last five, they still can’t shake the injury bug. Three key contributors have been ruled out for the Warriors’ New Year’s Eve tilt with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Warriors will be without their best scoring option, D’Angelo Russell, in San Antonio. Russell collided with Mavericks phenom, Luka Doncic, in the third quarter of the Warriors game Saturday night. Russell was escorted to the locker room, but returned to the court quickly with a right shoulder contusion. The All-Star’s shoulder injury has lingered, rulling him out against the Mavericks.
Russell’s already missed 12 games in 2019, with a thumb and ankle injury, now, add shoulder to the list.
Here's the collision that had D'Angelo Russell on the floor for several minutes pic.twitter.com/U6LMhZzyFw
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 29, 2019
Joining Russell on the bench is center, Willie Cauley-Stein. A case of the flu will hamper Cauley-Stein’s New Year’s Eve plans.
According to Golden State Warriors sideline reporter, Kerith Burke, a sickness has made its way through the Warriors’ locker room. Big-man Omari Spellman missed the Warriors’ past two games with an illness similar to Cauley-Stein’s. Steve Kerr told Burke, Spellman, “should be good to go,” versus San Antonio.
There’s an illness going thru the Warriors locker room. Willie Cauley-Stein and D’Angelo Russell will be OUT for the game against the Spurs. Ky Bowman was called up, but held out of practice today to manage his two-way days.
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) December 30, 2019
Lastly, Kevon Looney will miss his fourth straight game with Left Abdominal Soreness, marking his 21st missed game this season due to injury. The Warriors are being patient with Looney, who’s dealt with a complex neuropathy injury that’s stunted his season after signing a new contract over the offseason.
Latest injury report from Golden State:
Eric Paschall – PROBABLE – Right Hip Contusion
Willie Cauley-Stein – DOUBTFUL – Flu-like Symptoms
D’Angelo Russell – OUT – Left Shoulder Contusion
Kevon Looney – OUT – Left Abdominal Soreness
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) December 31, 2019
Although the injury report is hefty, the Warriors got a piece of positive news regarding one of their banged-up rookies. Breakout second-round pick, Eric Paschall is listed as probable with a right hip contusion that’s caused him to miss his last two games. Without Russell, the Warriors will need to lean on Paschall as a scoring threat against San Antonio.
Kerr and the Warriors are veterans with getting the most out of the roster after leading the NBA in games missed due to injury with 166 this season, according to Sportrac. Managing the Warriors’ light bench in their New Year’s Eve tilt in San Antonio is nothing new for Kerr.