MINNEAPOLIS – The Warriors will be without their top three players Monday for the second game of a back-to-back in Minneapolis.
Steph Curry labored through Sunday’s 111-85 victory with a sore knee, and he was ruled out for Monday’s game at Target Center.
“It’s not serious, but he had to warm up last night just to see if he could play, and it felt OK last night so he went. But it was still bothering him, so we’re doing the smart thing,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Joining him on the bench in street clothes will be Draymond Green, who was scratched with a back injury that Kerr said the Warriors were approaching similarly to Curry’s knee.
As if that was not enough for the already shorthanded Warriors, who saw Jonathan Kuminga ruled out with a knee issue and Jimmy Butler lost for the season with an ACL tear on Monday, they also were without their two best players off the bench.
De’Anthony Melton has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 14 games, despite being limited to under 25 minutes a night. The team has been cautious with his playing time as he builds up strength while returning from a torn ACL, and he was ruled out of Monday’s game.
Joining him in the back-to-back restriction club was Al Horford, who has played well recently and scored in double figures in three of his last four games.
The Warriors (26-21) are off to Utah on Wednesday.
