The Golden State Warriors are set to have Steph Curry back, along with an almost-full complement of roster support. The reason behind the “almost” is that Al Horford remains out with sciatica, while Draymond
Green is being given an excused absence for personal reasons, meaning he will miss the Warriors’ tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Green was not a participant in yesterday and today’s absences. Per Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard, Green’s wife’s due date is apparently this week, which may be the reason why Green has asked to for some time off.
Green’s absence could be felt against the large Wolves frontcourt of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. But the Warriors’ defense has done well the past three games, two of which Green was a complete non-participant and one where Green played only nine minutes and 23 seconds from having to leave early due to a right foot injury. In those three games against the Philadelphi 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Chicago Bulls, the Warriors limited those teams to a combined 99.3 points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time, second over that period. They will need to maintain that level of defense — all while hoping Curry and Jimmy Butler will be enough to muster a consistent stream of offense — in order to win against the Wolves on Friday.
