Golden State Warriors set for major boost against dangerous opposition
The Golden State Warriors are set for a boost with veteran duo Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul expected to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center.
The pair have each missed the last two games, both against the LA Clippers, due to respective injuries. Paul missed the majority of last Tuesday's game against the Sacramento Kings, leaving the game at the end of the first period with a leg injury.
Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul are listed as 'probable' for the first of the three meetings this month between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers
Wiggins has made his case for the most bizarre injury of the season, missing both games with a sore finger sustained after jamming it in a door last week. Should the duo return, only Gary Payton II will be absent for Golden State as he recovers from a calf strain.
The Warriors will enter as heavy favorites against the Trail Blazers, with the visitors languishing at 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-13 record. That's not to say it will be a walk in the park given Portland have respectable recent form.
Andrew Wiggins, with his right index finger still taped, is going through shooting drills after Warriors practice right now pic.twitter.com/HCqqZNNwz3
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) December 5, 2023
Portland ranked 26th in NBA.com's recent power rankings, though they stated that "the Blazers might not be that bad." That phrase comes amid a five-goad road-trip where the franchise has gone 2-2 ahead of Wednesday's game.
Their two wins have been impressive, beating the red-hot Indiana Pacers who've just made the semifinals of the inaugural NBA Cup, while also defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers who have already claimed victory over Golden State twice this season.
The Trail Blazers can be dangerous, particularly as a defensive unit where they rank 10th in the league. However, this will still be a game that will be difficult to earn plaudits from a Warrior perspective -- win and you simply did your job, lose and this underwhelming season turns further into a nightmare.
Having lost 10 of their last 14 games, Golden State will need to rediscover their best fairly quickly to maintain sight of those in the top six of the conference. They currently sit 11th with a 9-11 record.