Is Draymond Green playing vs. Kings on Friday? Warriors provide update on former DPOY
Draymond Green is set to miss the Golden State Warriors second regular season game, with the veteran forward still recovering from an ankle sprain sustained before training camp.
Head coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs that Green would miss Friday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center, but added that he could return at some point over the Warriors three-game road trip.
The absence of Draymond Green will put further pressure on the Golden State Warriors when they face a dynamic Sacramento Kings offense on Friday.
The 33-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year was initially questionable for Golden State’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, before eventually being ruled out on Monday.
Green would have undoubtedly been helpful against the Suns, with the Warriors unable to control Phoenix superstar Devin Booker who finished the game with 32 points, six rebounds and eight assists on 13-21 shooting.
Golden State will have a hard task defending the potent Kings on Friday night, a challenge only made more difficult by Green’s absence. Sacramento had the best offensive rating in league history last season, and poured in 130 points in their opener against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Former Warrior Harrison Barnes tallied 27 points in a dynamic first-half, before eventually finishing with 33 points on 11-16 shooting. All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis also had 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Kerr has preferred to start small in Green’s absence, starting newly-acquired veteran point-guard Chris Paul alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. The Warriors did beat the Kings twice in preseason without Green, but that will matter for nothing if they can’t get the job done on Friday night.
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The franchise will be hoping the four-time All-Star can return for either night of their back-to-back on Sunday and Monday against the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.