The Golden State Warriors are, surprisingly, still looking for their first win of the season. As they begin a three-game, Southwest Division road trip tonight in New Orleans, there’s a good chance they’ll be fully healthy for the game.
According to Mark Medina of The Mercury News, forwards Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala — who both suffered injuries in the Warriors season opener — are probable tonight:
As he hoisted 3-pointers from around the court, Warriors forward Draymond Green offered more and more visible signs that his left knee might not be an issue.
The Warriors (0-1) upgraded his playing status for Friday’s game against the Pelicans (0-1) at Smoothie King Center from doubtful to probable after completing all of Thursday’s evening practice without any limitations.
Granted, the Warriors did not have any scrimmages. But Green’s progression marks a huge step after missing the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game and Wednesday’s practice with a strained left knee. The results of an MRI taken on Wednesday, though, came out negative and showed no new structural damage.
“It’s what we expected. It wasn’t like we were holding our breath,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after holding practice at the Hertz Center in Tulane University. “It’s kind of what we thought would happen. It would’ve been a surprise if it was a major injury.”
The Warriors also received good news on reserve forward Andre Iguodala, who was upgraded from questionable to probable after nursing a back strain that kept him out of last week’s preseason finale against Sacramento and this week’s season opener against Houston. The Warriors, though, ruled out reserve forward Omri Casspi who is nursing sprains in both of his ankles.
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Coach Steve Kerr said it’s “very possible” reserve forwards Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney could receive more playing time after having an extended role against Houston.
“They could both play like they did opening night or neither one of them will play,” Kerr said. “Or only one of them will play. When you’re in that role in the NBA, it’s your job to stay ready and produce when we call upon you.”
If that happens, they will have the unenviable task of matching up against the Pelicans’ frontline in DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. The NBA universe is small, but the Pelicans’ world is big.
“There are very few bigs in the league anymore anyway from 20 years ago. So I think this is probably an anomaly. But it’s a challenge,” Kerr said. “It’s a different style of defense that you have to play from what you’re growing accustomed to in the NBA these days.”
