The Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, both grappling with injury-ridden rosters, are set to clash on Monday afternoon.
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On their respective favorite holiday, the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, both perennial Western Conference contenders grappling with injury-ridden rosters, are set to clash on Monday afternoon. The Warriors, experiencing a rough patch, have dropped seven of their last 10 games, while the Grizzlies, on a two-game losing streak, gear up for the first of their three meetings this season.
A notable aspect of the upcoming game is the highly anticipated comeback of Warriors forward Draymond Green. According to reports from ESPN and The Athletic on Sunday, Green, who had been sidelined for 13 games due to suspension, is expected to make his return.
Following his reinstatement on January 7, Green took an additional three games to regain his game fitness. During his absence, the Warriors managed an 8-8 record. Warriors coach Steve Kerr emphasized the significance of Green maintaining a higher standard upon his return to the team.
For the Grizzlies, Adams (surgery), Aldams (knee injury), Bane (ankle injury), Clarke (achilles tendon injury), Morant (shoulder injury), and Smart (finger injury). Besides, Rose (thigh injury) is also questionable for the game. As for the Warriors, Curry (rest), Moody (calf injury), Paul (hand injury), and Payton (hamstring injury) will be sitting this one out.
After securing a 140-131 victory in Chicago on Friday, Golden State made the strategic decision to give Stephen Curry some rest, resulting in a somewhat unexpected competitive loss of 129-118 against Milwaukee the following night. However, Curry is slated to return and play on Monday.
Finding a glimmer of hope, apart from facing another team grappling with challenges, lies in the fact that both the Warriors and Grizzlies have historically experienced notable success on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
On this holiday, Golden State has an impressive record of 21 wins and 9 losses, while the Grizzlies have hosted Martin Luther King Jr. Day games for the past six seasons, securing a 4-2 record. Their recent success includes a convincing 136-106 victory over Phoenix last year.
Regrettably for Memphis, the quintet of starters, who collectively contributed 92 points in the win against the Suns, were all unavailable for Saturday’s 106-94 home defeat against the New York Knicks. Dillon Brooks, one of the five, departed in free agency over the summer, while the remaining four—Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Steven Adams—were sidelined due to injuries.
Subsequently, Jake LaRavia, coming off the bench, endured a sprained ankle merely four minutes into his appearance. As a result, LaRavia, along with Aldama and Rose, is currently marked as questionable for the upcoming Golden State game.
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