Warriors Face Injury Crisis Ahead of Kings Matchup

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors will be missing several key players as they face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, with star guard Stephen Curry officially ruled out due to illness.

Curry has reported a worsening cold and opted to stay in San Francisco following the Warriors’ victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. In addition to Curry, Jimmy Butler is out with back soreness, while Draymond Green is sidelined with a rib injury.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr described his team as “wiped out” as they approach a challenging schedule, including eight road games out of their next nine. “When all is said and done, of our first 15 games, I think they’ll come in 26 days in 10 different cities,” Kerr said. He expressed concerns about the physical demands on the players, especially compared to previous years.

For the Kings, leading scorer Zach LaVine will miss the game due to a back injury, and center Domantas Sabonis is also out with bruised ribs. Coach Doug Christie commented on Sabonis’s toughness, stating, “Domas is as tough as they come. But when it comes to injuries, hurt and injured are two totally different things.”

With all these absences, rookie Will Richard and Moses Moody will make their first starts of the season. Despite the challenges, Kerr remains optimistic: “I’m excited. These games are obviously more difficult when you’re missing your stars, but it’s a great opportunity for a lot of guys.” The Warriors’ next game is scheduled for Friday against the Denver Nuggets.