Thunder Cruise Past Short-Handed Warriors 131-94
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The Golden State Warriors, missing several key players, fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-94 on Friday night at Chase Center.
Stephen Curry (left ankle soreness), Jimmy Butler (illness) and Draymond Green (rest) were all sidelined, forcing Golden State to navigate the game without three of its most prominent veterans. Curry injured the ankle late in Wednesday’s win at Charlotte but said the issue is minor. Team officials added that Butler woke up feeling unwell Friday morning, while Green was given the night off.
Forward Jonathan Kuminga was ruled out shortly before tipoff with lower-back soreness, further thinning the Warriors’ rotation.
Friday’s matchup opened a home back-to-back for Golden State following a three-game road swing through Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte. The Warriors will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday and hope Curry, Butler and Green can return to the lineup.
The contest was streamed on Prime Video, placing it under the NBA’s player participation policy for nationally televised games. Both Curry and Butler meet the league’s criteria as recent All-Stars, though the Warriors emphasized that their absences were injury-related.
Source: Hoops Wire