Before the Golden State Warriors lost their last two games, the team was playing its best basketball of the 2019-20 season. They went on their longest winning streak on the year, victorious in four-straight and even stealing their Christmas day matchup against the Houston Rockets.
Two games later, the Warriors have looked more like the team their 9-27 record reflects.
Although the team is still without both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, in December, Steve Kerr had a reasonably deep rotation for one of the first times all season. Again, the injury bug found its way back into the Warriors locker room.
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported D’Angelo Russell (right shoulder contusion) and Kevon Looney (abdominal soreness are still ruled out for the Warriors’ first game of the new year in the Chase Center against the Detroit Pistons.
D’Angelo Russell and Kevon Looney still ruled out for Warriors home game tonight vs Pistons. Willie Cauley-Stein listed as questionable. Jordan Poole, who has been shooting it well on assignment in G-League, expected to be available.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 4, 2020
Detroit will be Russell’s third straight game he’s been held out since colliding with Luka Doncic of the Mavericks. Russell was down on the floor for a significant amount of time after running into Doncic but quickly returned to the game after a short trip to the locker room.
Russell played out the last minutes against the Mavericks; however, the All-Star guard hasn’t been able to suit up for Golden State as the calendar has turned to 2020.
Along with Russell, hobbled big man, Looney is scheduled to miss game number 22 on the season. The UCLA product has dealt with a complicated neuropathy injury and is now dealing with left abdominal soreness. Golden State has been patient with Looney’s injuries as they signed him to a three-year contract worth $15 million over the offseason.
After joining Russell and Looney on the bench for the previous two games, Willie Cauley-Stein is listed as questionable against the Pistons. Cauley-Stein has been dealing with an illness that’s been making its way through the Warriors’ clubhouse.
Although Golden State is expected to be understaffed when Detroit makes its first-ever appearance in Chase Center, the Warriors still have a chance for victory, as the Pistons are dealing with their share of injuries as well.
Rod Beard of The Detroit News reported Blake Griffin (knee), Luke Kennard (knee) and Markieff Morris (foot sprain) are all listed as out on the Detroit injury report.
#Pistons Blake Griffin, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Markieff Morris and Khyri Thomas are still OUT for Saturday at #Warriors.
Andre Drummond is (illness) not listed on the injury report.#DFS
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) January 4, 2020
Without Russell over the past two games, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III have led the Warriors in scoring. Burks has been one of Golden State’s primary offensive initiators without Russell. Burks has started the past two games while Russell’s been on the bench, scoring 35 total points on 48 % shooting from the field. Burks also added five 3-pointers on six attempts in his last two contests.
Alongside Burks, Robinson III has tallied 41 combined points on an efficient 54.8 % from the field. The former Michigan Wolverine is averaging nearly 36 minutes per game over the last two games, shooting 50 % from beyond the arc, while grabbing nine total boards.
If the injury report doesn’t change by the time things tip-off between the Warriors and the Pistons, expect Kerr to lean heavily on his swingman duo of Burks and Robinson III.