SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors will be without Draymond Green for at least the next four games, and possibly more after he sustained a calf strain early in Saturday’s game against the Wizards.
Green, 34, was diagnosed with a mild left calf strain, according to a team press release. He’ll be re-evaluated next Monday, Jan. 27.
The Warriors (21-20) have tried to ease the burden on Green this year by decreasing his total minutes and by playing him next to a traditional center. But their precautions haven’t produced the intended results. Monday’s game against the defending champion Celtics will be Green’s eighth missed game of the season.
Green’s defensive genius and the way he plays off Steph Curry on the other end are core to who the Warriors are. His unique play style is part of the reason why Golden State has always played with so much off-ball motion on the offensive end. Without him, they could resort to more traditional pick-and-roll sets, with Dennis Schroder handling the ball more often.
“Steph and Dray have such a connection that when they’re together out there, they’re playing their game and we’re playing our game,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “As soon as Draymond leaves the floor, it becomes a different game. We don’t have to necessarily change our thinking, it more happens organically.”
Green sat out three straight games last week as he dealt with an L5-S1 disc injury in his back. Then he played just three minutes against Washington before limping off.
That Green’s calf flared up is a concern. When he missed two months in 2022, he had a herniated L5-S1 disc and corresponding calf issues. Last week, the team clarified that Green’s back injury wasn’t similar to that of three years ago.
Green’s injury adds an important name to Golden State’s injury report. Jonathan Kuminga, who had begun to turn a corner in his fourth season, is out at least another week with a significant ankle sprain. Brandin Podziemski could return at some point later this week, but he hasn’t dressed since Dec. 28 because of an abdominal strain. Reserve forward Kyle Anderson has also missed three games in a row.
With all the injuries, Moses Moody is expected to soak up more minutes at the power forward spot. Golden State likes his physicality against bigger opponents and his ability to hit corner 3s or drive hard closeouts along the baseline.
“We’ve known, I think, for a couple years that Moses is at his best at the four,” Kerr said. “Because he can space the floor and use his body and energy to guard, get on the floor for loose balls.”
On Monday afternoon, the Warriors started Schroder, Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Moody will also be an option in similarly constructed lineups as a floor-spacer.
Green is averaging 8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season. The Warriors are 6.3 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court than they are when he’s off.
With Green out this week, he’ll have missed 11 games on the season. Players can only miss 17 total games to be eligible for end-of-season awards like being named to the all-defensive team.