SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors are set to face a tough challenge in their Friday night home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the team will be without three key players: Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
- Draymond Green is out due to scheduled rest.
- Stephen Curry suffered a minor tweak to his left ankle in the closing moments of Wednesday’s win against the Charlotte Hornets. The star guard described the incident as a “little blast from the past,” alluding to his well-documented history of ankle injuries, but assured fans he’ll be okay.
- Jimmy Butler was a surprise late addition to the injury report on Friday, sidelined by an illness after waking up feeling unwell. He had not been listed earlier in the week.
The matchup, broadcast nationally on Prime Video, falls under the NBA’s Player Participation Policy for star players on televised games. Both Curry and Butler – recent multi-time All-Stars – meet the criteria, which could result in a $100,000 fine per player if the league rules their absences are not due to legitimate reasons.
This game kicks off a home back-to-back for the Warriors, fresh off a road trip that included stops in Toronto, Brooklyn, and Charlotte. They’ll host the Utah Jazz on Saturday, with the team expressing optimism that Curry, Butler, and Green will be back in the lineup for that contest.
Heading into the showdown, Golden State brings strong recent form, winning five of their last six games to improve to 18-16 on the season. The schedule favors them in January, with 10 of the first 11 games played at home – a prime opportunity to build momentum in the competitive Western Conference.
