Image Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Draymond Green Rested Against Portland Trail Blazers, Stephen Curry and Two Starters Expected to Return

The Warriors will aim to bounce back from their preseason's first defeat to the LA Lakers.

Image Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The Golden State Warriors will aim to bounce back from their NBA preseason’s first defeat as they lock horns with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, October 13. The Dubs slumped to the Los Angeles Lakers 126-116 on Sunday, and in the next game, they will focus on their shortcomings. However, the key reason for the defeat could be attributed to the absence of several key starters, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford.

In the upcoming game, the prospects for the Dubs are far more promising as the Warriors’ starters who missed action against the Lakers will reportedly be available. According to reports by Anthony Slater, Curry, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford are scheduled to play against the Blazers. However, Draymond Green will get the night off on Tuesday. It will allow the Dubs to experiment with the core alongside their younger players.

Notably, on Sunday, the Warriors struggled to find rhythm in the first half. They couldn’t keep up with the Lakers’ production, despite Green, Brandin Podizemski and Jonathan Kuminga anchoring the Warriors’ offense. Apart from them, Trayce Jackson-Davis, LJ Cryer, and Gary Payton II dropped decent performances with 14 points, and 11 points each, respectively.

Golden State Warriors Remain Uncertain About Shooting Guard Spot

While the Golden State Warriors are utilizing the preseason to experiment with their rotation, just like other franchises, one certainty still looms over their lineup. The Dubs are being driven by a veteran core; however, their head coach, Steve Kerr remains uncertain about the starting lineup, specifically their starting shooting guard spot.

Steve Kerr isn’t ready to commit to a starting SG: “I can't say that yet. We've got to see where we are. Brandin's going to play a ton. He's a hugely important player for us. But the starting lineup frankly is a little tricky for us, given the pieces and Al's age.” pic.twitter.com/3vfHobmWra
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 13, 2025

Speaking after the Sunday-night loss to the Lakers, Kerr spoke to the media and addressed the uncertainty in the Warriors’ camp. “I can’t say that yet,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to see where we are. Brandin’s going to play a ton. He’s a hugely important player for us. But the starting lineup frankly is a little tricky for us, given the pieces and Al’s [Horford] age.”

Kerr’s concerns are regarding the age of Al Horford, and per him, if the veteran big man were a little younger, he would definitely be in the starting lineup. However, at 39, the former Boston Celtics star’s age forces the head coach to be more tactical.

Draymond Green

Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.