Warriors rookie Moses Moody had to leave the floor with about five minutes left in the first quarter Tuesday night after taking an elbow from Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Moody left toward the locker room with a trainer and showed signs of discomfort.
Early in the second quarter, the Warriors announced that Moody exited with a left eye contusion and that he wouldn't return. Moody, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, entered the game averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 10 minutes through his first 36 contests.
Moody made a quick impact in the contest with six points in six minutes, including a 3-pointer, while making his second straight start for Klay Thompson (illness). Moody also made an impressive pass to Gary Payton II though GP2 was fouled on the dunk attempt.
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters, "It's pretty bad. His eye is swollen shut."
Moody scored a quiet five points and grabbed five rebounds in 25 minutes in Sunday’s loss, so it looked like he was on his way to playing a bigger role on Tuesday. The Warriors were without Thompson, Nemanja Bjelica (right quad contusion) and Andre Iguodala (lower back tightness), in addition to Draymond Green (back) and James Wiseman (knee).
Golden State suffered another injury scare with 3:25 left in the first quarter when rookie Jonathan Kuminga went down after a hard foul on Towns. Both players spent some extra time on the floor but played the entire game.
Kuminga and KAT collided violently near the rim. Both players appear to be OK 🙏 pic.twitter.com/pokuEAwFnZ
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 2, 2022
If Moody has to miss any time, the Warriors might recall two-way player Quinndary Weatherspoon, who has been tearing up the G League this season and has played with Golden State on five occasions.
The Warriors' next two games are Thursday at the Dallas Mavericks and Saturday at the Los Angeles Lakers.
