SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Both the Warriors and the Kings will be missing key players when they face off in Sacramento Wednesday night. For Golden State, star point guard Stephen Curry and forward Jimmy Butler III are out, while the Kings will be without center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine.
Adding to Golden State’s concerns, forward Draymond Green is listed as questionable for the game due to a rib contusion.
Curry is battling a worsening cold and remained in San Francisco to recover. Butler experienced back discomfort during the first half of the Warriors’ victory over the Suns on Tuesday and, despite intensive treatment, will be unable to play.
Sabonis’ injury is related to his ribs, apparently suffered during Monday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets. LaVine is being bothered by a back problem.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described his team as “drained” following a packed schedule during the initial month of the season, which included three back-to-back series. The majority of their upcoming games, eight out of nine, will be played away from home.
“When you consider our first 15 games, they are compressed into 26 days across 10 cities,” Kerr explained. “Demanding that our players sprint – applying full-court pressure or dealing with it, rushing to the 3-point line, covering 3-point shooters, and maintaining this tempo – is vastly different compared to what it was two decades ago.”
Butler and Green are 35 years old. Curry is 37. Al Horford, the team’s experienced center who will not participate in both games of any of their 15 back-to-back series this season, is 39. The Warriors have openly discussed their performance staff’s plan, led by Rick Celebrini, to strategically rest their older players during a select number of games this season.
“We all understand the actual solution [to load management] is shortening the season,” Kerr commented, expressing some doubt. “But good luck with that.”
