On Friday night, the Golden State Warriors will take on the Miami Heat. They’ll do that without a few other important pieces, most notably Stephen Curry, who is ruled out with ankle soreness. This move was made just six hours before tip-off, after Curry was questionable due to the right ankle that’s been problematic over the last two games. Jonathan Kuminga will sit against the Rockets due to knee tendinitis, adding to the Warriors’ worryingly thin lineup.
Curry first sprained his right ankle last Friday during a dazzling 49-point, MVP-ish performance against the San Antonio Spurs. He was still worried he’d re-injured it during the first half of Tuesday’s loss to the Orlando Magic. The star guard has been tentative, but he is excited to return to the court on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He cannot wait to play back in San Francisco.
Curry won’t be the only player missing from this matchup on the court, as Golden State will be without fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga. He’s been sidelined with knee tendinitis. For the inexperienced team, options are few as they navigate an unforgiving slate. They’ve played a league-high 17 games, a bonkers pace of one game every day, in only the first 29 days of the season.
Draymond Green is still considered doubtful when the Warriors take on Miami. His impact on the court would be instrumental for the Warriors too, particularly with a feisty and competitive Heat team on the other side of the floor. The Warriors have had a lot of adversity to start their season, having traveled to 12 cities and through an NBA-worst five back-to-back sets.
The Jimmy Butler return timeline is getting clearer for the Miami Heat. He is working his way through some LS back quirkiness at this point. Butler missed a game earlier this season due to similar problems. Now, he’s prepared to take his first team into NBA combat against Golden State. This particular matchup carries extra significance for Butler. It’ll be the second time he’s returned to Miami since the Warriors traded for him last February.
The Warriors’ next three games will be at home, too. This environment provides them an opportunity to heal and regroup while they continue to work on solidifying their depth chart and enhancing their ability to perform under a daunting slate.
Leave a Reply