A major collision during Sunday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder had negative consequences for both players. Chet Holmgren fractured his pelvis when he collapsed while guarding an Andrew Wiggins layup. And now Wiggins is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a lower back issue.
Wiggins had missed two games earlier this season due to the same issue. He and De’Anthony Melton have both had back problems this season.
Draymond Green has had back issues in the past, which is something the Warriors veterans can bond over while spry youngsters like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody throw alley-oops to each other. It’s not clear that the collision with Holmgreen is what hurt Wiggins’ back, but he was moving noticeably slower during the 4th quarter of Sunday’s 127-116 win.
But the rest of the injury report is as clear as the path to the hoop in Sunday’s game with the Thunder’s centers out. It’s as empty of Warriors as the beach at Coney Island after the Riffs apprehended Luther and the Rogues.
As for the Dallas Mavericks, Dante Exum is out. Forward P.J. Washington is questionable with a knee injury. Center Dereck Lively is questionable with a sprained right shoulder, which has kept him out for the last four games, though he practiced on Monday.
Mavs center Dereck Lively II, who missed last four games due to sprained right shoulder, told me he had a “good practice” today in San Francisco and hopes to play tomorrow vs. Warriors. “Just got to see how I feel when I wake up, but it’s been steady progress and I’m feeling.
It might take some motivation away from Klay Thompson, who was famously upset that Wiggins, along with Jordan Poole, got a contract extension after the Warriors won the title in 2022. Thompson is shooting 35.4% from three-point range and 41.8% from the field this season, so actually, the Warriors might prefer having Wiggins there to encourage Captain Klay to fire away at will.
If Wiggins doesn’t start, who should join Steph Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the starting lineup?
