The Warriors traveled from Dallas to New Orleans to play the Pelicans, but not everyone will be suiting up for Thursday’s game in the Smoothie King Center.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson are each unavailable against the Pelicans. That’s in addition to the typical injury report that has featured Klay Thompson and James Wiseman this season.
Curry suffered a lower thigh contusion during Golden State’s 99-82 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday. He was hurting after the game to the point where he was already pessimistic he’d suit up the following night in New Orleans.
Green is listed with a left hip injury, while Toscano-Anderson has a left ankle injury.
Players, particularly aging stars, frequently sit out the second night of back-to-backs even if they’re not dealing with serious injuries. The practice, commonly known as load management, is based on science that suggests playing too much in a short period of time can increase long-term injury risk.
Curry and Green have played back-to-backs this year; they’re not on load management plans. But Golden State could be taking advantage of a tough part in their schedule by giving their pillars a night off — especially with a potentially monumental game on the horizon Sunday, when Thompson is expected to make his debut.
