The Warriors will be a bit shorthanded Thursday in New Orleans.
Stephen Curry (quad contusion), Draymond Green (left hip) and Juan Toscano-Anderson (left ankle) have each been ruled out for the second leg of their back-to-back, following Wednesday night’s ugly 99-82 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Curry will miss his third game in 38 contests after he hit his left knee area in a collision with 6-foot-7 Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater shared video of the play where Curry got injured.
Curry stayed in the game but showed some signs of discomfort. After the game Curry said he doubted he’d play Thursday, so this news isn’t much of a surprise.
Steph struggled for his second straight contest Wednesday and is mired in an extended 16-game slump that dates back to Nov. 30 – as he’s shooting just 36.7 percent from the floor and 34.7 from 3-point range in that span. Perhaps a day to rest and his mind doesn’t hurt, either. Following the Pelicans matchup, the Warriors are set to return to the Bay Area for Sunday’s contest against Cleveland Cavaliers, where his Splash Brother Klay Thompson could make his much-anticipated return.
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Green -- who ripped NBA referees his postgame presser Wednesday -- has played in 33 of the Warriors’ 37 contests so far. He played in two games this week after missing two contests due to a stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Coincidentally, Green has been sidelined for Curry’s previous two missed games this season as well.
Toscano-Anderson appeared to get banged up Wednesday and grimaced but played through the pain. This will be the first game he’s missed this season due to injury, as he received a DNP on Nov. 14 against the Charlotte Hornets.
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Andre Iguodala (knee) and Otto Porter Jr. (foot) are slated to return to action, though, after sitting out Wednesday.
Jordan Poole will return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench the past couple of games and be paired with Gary Payton II in the backcourt. Andrew Wiggins, Porter and Kevon Looney will round out the starting five.
Iguodala, Chris Chiozza, Damion Lee, Nemanja Bjelica and Jonathan Kuminga figure to round out the rotation while rookie Moses Moody and two-way player Quinndary Weatherspoon could get more minutes than usual as well.
