Warriors and Kings Both Short-Handed Ahead of Sacramento Clash

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Both the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings will be significantly short-handed when they meet on Wednesday night, as injuries and fatigue continue to take a toll early in the NBA season. The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, while Draymond Green remains questionable. On the other side, the Kings will miss All-Star center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine.

Curry, who is battling a worsening cold, did not make the trip and will remain in San Francisco to recover. Butler exited Tuesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns with back soreness and, despite aggressive treatment, has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game. Meanwhile, Green continues to manage a rib contusion that has limited his activity over the past week.

For Sacramento, Sabonis suffered a rib injury during Monday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets and has not yet returned to full basketball activities. LaVine, who joined the Kings in the offseason, is sidelined by back tightness — an issue that has lingered since training camp.

The absences leave both teams scrambling to adjust rotations and rely on bench depth as they navigate a grueling early-season stretch marked by back-to-backs and heavy travel.

1. Fatigue Mounting for Golden State’s Veterans

Golden State’s demanding schedule has been a source of frustration for head coach Steve Kerr, who cited the toll it’s taken on his veteran core. The Warriors are amid a packed slate featuring three back-to-backs in the opening month, with eight of their next nine games on the road. “When all is said and done, of our first 15 games, I think they’ll come in 26 days in 10 different cities,” Kerr noted. “To ask our players to sprint full-court, defend the perimeter, and maintain that pace night after night is dramatically different from what the game was 20 years ago.” The team’s elder statesmen — Curry (37), Butler (35), Green (35), and Al Horford (39) — have all faced varying degrees of load management as part of the Warriors’ long-term health strategy. Horford, for instance, won’t play in both halves of any back-to-back this season, a policy that underscores the team’s emphasis on preservation over short-term gain. Kerr praised the performance staff, led by Rick Celebrini, for managing the delicate balance between competitiveness and longevity. Still, he acknowledged the inherent challenge of keeping veterans healthy through an 82-game season.

2. Managing the Season’s Grind

The discussion around player rest and health management continues to be a focal point across the league, and Kerr didn’t shy away from addressing the broader issue. “We all know what the real answer [to load management] is — shorten the season,” Kerr said with a wry smile. “Good luck.” While the NBA has made attempts to limit back-to-backs and excessive travel, veteran-heavy teams like Golden State still face unique challenges. The Warriors’ reliance on their aging core means managing rest days will remain a key factor throughout the season, even if it occasionally means sacrificing wins in the short term. For Sacramento, the absences of Sabonis and LaVine are equally concerning. Both players are central to the Kings’ offensive flow and spacing, and their injuries could expose depth issues in the frontcourt and backcourt alike. Head coach Mike Brown is expected to lean heavily on emerging players like Keegan Murray and Malik Monk to shoulder larger roles. As both teams regroup, Wednesday’s matchup may serve less as a showcase of stars and more as a test of resilience for two squads trying to balance ambition with durability.

3. Looking Ahead

With several of their top contributors sidelined, the Warriors and Kings will need strong performances from their supporting casts to stay competitive. For Golden State, this stretch could offer valuable opportunities for younger players to step into expanded roles — something Kerr views as vital for the team’s long-term success. The Kings, meanwhile, will focus on maintaining stability amid injuries that threaten to derail their early-season rhythm. Both franchises recognize the importance of managing workloads now to remain healthy when the games matter most in the spring. While fans may miss the star-studded duel they expected, both teams understand that keeping key players on the floor over the long haul is the ultimate goal. *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir=“auto” tabindex="-1" data-turn-id=“request-690912e3-712c-8323-ba6c-1032b24d1d7d-3” data-testid=“conversation-turn-24” data-scroll-anchor=“true” data-turn=“assistant”>

With Stephen Curry, Domantas Sabonis, and other key starters sidelined, the Warriors and Kings face a test of endurance and depth in their early-season showdown in Sacramento.