Struggling Warriors square off with banged-up 76ers
Jan 30, 2024, 7:15 AM | Updated: 7:24 am
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 27: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors go for a loose ball in the first half at Chase Center on January 27, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Warriors enter their Tuesday matchup against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers coming off back-to-back one-point losses. Golden State have dropped four of their last five, including three of four since Draymond Green returned from a suspension.
Golden State has picked up the offensive pace with Green back in the lineup, putting up 134 and 133 points in regulation games before totaling 144 in a one-point, double-overtime setback against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Green has had 11 assists in each of Golden State’s past two contests, including the Warriors’ 134-133 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. He also grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds in the loss to the Lakers.
READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS: NBA trade deadline rumors: Warriors open to Klay Thompson trade calls
Warriors coach Steve Kerr reinserted Green into the starting lineup against Los Angeles for the first time since the suspension, and star Stephen Curry was among those who applauded the move.
“That lineup (with Green at center), we got some speed, we have some athleticism, we have Draymond’s brain and mind and just the way that he sees the floor defensively,” Curry said after scoring 46 points on Saturday. “You have a lot of confidence with that group. There’s a lot of good to see out there.”
The Saturday starting lineup also included Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, each of whom scored more than 20 points.
The Warriors two days off to recuperate after their loss to the Lakers. The 76ers enter the Tuesday matchup coming off a 130-104 road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Thirteen 76ers players logged minutes, none more than 31, in the team’s third straight loss. Center Joel Embiid (left knee) and Tyrese Maxey (left ankle) each sat out his second straight game.
Before the Monday game, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said Embiid had warmed up but had trouble jumping.
Asked if Embiid might return against Golden State, Nurse said, “I don’t want to rule him out at all, so I guess we’ll just see how we’re doing (before the game).”
The 76ers are also missing De’Anthony Melton (back) and Robert Covington (left knee). Tobias Harris returned against the Blazers after missing the previous two games with an illness. He had nine points in 20 minutes.
In their most recent game, Embiid had 31 points and Maxey scored 22 in Philadelphia’s 134-122 loss at Indiana on Thursday. Both sat out the 76ers’ 111-105 defeat at Denver on Saturday and then the lopsided defeat at Portland on Monday.
Paul Reed got the start in Embiid’s place against Nikola Jokic in Denver and outscored the two-time league MVP 30-26 while grabbing 13 rebounds. Reed then had just 11 points and six boards against Portland.
–Field Level Media
Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
