The Golden State Warriors can’t catch a break. Hours after learning veteran center Al Horford will miss at least one week, the franchise may now be without former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green when they host the Utah Jazz on Monday.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area columnist Monte Poole, Green is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Poole also reported that Horford will be out due to sciatica, and forward Jonathan Kuminga remains sidelined with bilateral knee tendinitis.
If Green joins Horford on the inactive list, the Warriors—already among the smallest teams in the Western Conference—will enter Monday dangerously thin in the frontcourt.
Golden State Exposed on Glass During Third Straight Loss
The Warriors’ recent slide hit a breaking point in Friday’s 127–123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, exposing Golden State’s biggest flaw: rebounding.
Portland grabbed 12 more offensive rebounds than the Warriors and turned those opportunities into a 28–10 blowout edge in second-chance points.
“Tonight, what really hurt us was the second-chance opportunities,” head coach Steve Kerr said after the loss. “They kept getting extra shots, and that’s where the game turned.”
Horford, signed this offseason to stabilize the team’s interior, played only 18 minutes before exiting. Without him, the Warriors were outrebounded, outmuscled, and repeatedly punished on broken defensive possessions.
Jimmy Butler Calls Out Warriors After Loss: ‘We’re Not Guarding Anybody’
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Jimmy Butler issues a warning to the Golden State Warriors.
Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler challenges team identity, says defense—not size—is the real issue.
Kerr attributed the loss to rebounding, but Butler sees the problem differently.
The outspoken Warriors wing issued a blunt critique, arguing that Golden State’s struggles stem from a lack of defensive identity—not just a lack of size.
“We’re just not guarding anybody,” Butler said. “You’ve got to take each and every matchup personally… We’ve got to do way better guarding on that side of the ball.”
Butler said Portland faced little resistance at every level of the court.
“You’re not taking anything away,” Butler continued. “You’re not taking the paint away. You’re not taking away layups, free throws, lobs, threes… tonight they were getting whatever shot they wanted.”
Despite Stephen Curry’s explosive 38-point performance, Butler insisted that offense alone cannot carry the Warriors.
“You can’t always bank on shots going in,” Butler said. “You always have to be able to guard.”
Butler Defends Draymond Green: ‘I’d Be Pissed Too’
Butler was also asked whether he and Green—two vocal defensive leaders—are taking the effort personally.
“I know for a fact [Green] does,” Butler said. “He wants to get a stop every play down the floor… He’s doing the toughest part if you’re being real.”
He added that Green’s workload is being made worse because his teammates aren’t matching his intensity.
“He’s got to help, and box out, and block shots, and get the rebound. Honestly, I’d be pissed if I was Dray, too.”
Warriors Enter Critical Stretch
With Horford out, Green questionable, and Kuminga still unavailable, Golden State is staring at a pivotal week that could shape their season. Whether Kerr agrees with Butler or not, the message is clear:
The Warriors must defend—or risk falling apart.
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