The Golden State Warriors face the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Cup action, a matchup that should be compelling given the current form of both franchises. Each team has started the season in uneven fashion and continues searching for consistency, which makes Friday’s game a valuable test. But one key question looms heading into the night: Will Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green play?
Butler is listed as probable with low back soreness after missing the previous game. Green, who was sidelined in the loss to the Miami Heat due to illness, is also probable for Friday’s in-season tournament matchup. Barring setbacks, both veteran stars are expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Stephen Curry as the Warriors finally head back home following a grueling six-game road trip.
In addition to Butler and Green, the Warriors have another player on the injury report. Buddy Hield is listed as probable with an illness after playing against Miami. He finished that game with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, shooting 7-of-20 from the field and 4-of-15 from three.
On the other side of the availability spectrum, the Warriors have officially ruled out Jonathan Kuminga due to bilateral knee tendonitis. The young forward has struggled to find rhythm after a strong start to the season, and an enforced rest may be exactly what he needs to reset and regain form.
Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors brings the ball up.
How the Warriors enter the matchup
Golden State closed its six-game road trip with a 3–3 record. Stephen Curry carried a heavy offensive load throughout the trip, averaging 29.8 points per game, while Jimmy Butler averaged 22.4 during his time on the floor. At 9–8, the Warriors sit eighth in the Western Conference and remain in the thick of a crowded early-season playoff picture.
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They arrive at this game after a tough loss to the Miami Heat — a Heat team that played without its top star, Tyler Herro, who has missed most of the NBA season due to injury. Still, Miami leaned on Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo, both of whom have been playing at an elite level and keeping the franchise afloat.
The Warriors fell despite deploying a lineup without any of their marquee names. With no Butler, no Green, no Curry, and no Al Horford, Golden State relied on Brandin Podziemski, who delivered 20 points and eight rebounds. Buddy Hield added 18 points, rookie Quinten Post scored 19, and Pat Spencer nearly posted a triple-double with 11 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists while running the offense.
