Image Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Golden State Warriors Face Mounting Injuries and Defensive Doubts As Season Stability Hangs in the Balance

Image Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Golden State Warriors are bracing for another setback as injuries continue to thin their roster. Hours after learning veteran center Al Horford will miss at least a week, the team may also be without Draymond Green when they host the Utah Jazz on Monday.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole reported that Draymond Green is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Horford is sidelined due to sciatica, while forward Jonathan Kuminga remains unavailable with bilateral knee tendinitis. If Green joins Horford on the inactive list, Golden State will be dangerously undersized in the frontcourt, a weakness already exposed in recent games.

The Warriors’ struggles were evident in Friday’s 127–123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite Stephen Curry’s 38 points and nine three-pointers, Golden State was undone by rebounding. Portland secured 12 more offensive boards and converted them into a decisive 28–10 edge in second-chance points.

This photo of Steph Curry shooting a three over Victor Wembanyama is crazy. 🤯

(via @warriors, h/t @NBAdabad) pic.twitter.com/kZn7X9gUPg
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 15, 2025

“Tonight, what really hurt us was the second-chance opportunities,” head coach Steve Kerr admitted after the defeat. “They kept getting extra shots, and that’s where the game turned.”

Al Horford, signed in the offseason to stabilize the interior, played only 18 minutes before exiting. Without him, the Warriors were repeatedly outmuscled and punished on broken defensive possessions. The absence of reliable size has left the team vulnerable, but not everyone believes rebounding is the sole issue.

Butler Shifts Focus From Size to Defensive Accountability

Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler delivered a blunt critique, insisting the Warriors’ problems stem from a lack of defensive identity. “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 argued that Portland faced little resistance at every level of the court. “You’re not taking anything away,” he 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.”

Even with Curry’s offensive brilliance, Butler emphasized that scoring alone cannot carry the team. “You can’t always bank on shots going in,” he said. “You always have to be able to guard.”

Asked about Green’s role, Butler acknowledged his teammate’s relentless defensive effort. “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.”

Butler added that Green’s workload is being made heavier because teammates are not 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.”