Warriors center Al Horford has been ruled out for Saturday's game at the Suns with a back issue. Golden State, 0-2 and on a two-game losing streak, goes to Phoenix without its 40-year-old big man.
What happened
Al Horford was ruled out for Saturday night's game against the Suns, according to the official injury report posted at 4:32 PM ET on Oct 24. The injury is listed as back, with torso as the body area. The report's comment reads: "Horford (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Suns." The report carries no previous status for this entry. Horford was cleared from Day-To-Day on Oct 17, after two earlier Day-To-Day listings for rest, on Oct 7 and Oct 12. The report lists an expected return date of Oct 26. No further detail on the injury has been announced.
What it means for the Warriors
The Warriors play at the Suns on Saturday at 10:00 PM ET on NBA TV. They are 0-2, in the 14th seed, and have lost two straight. Horford has played in both games, averaging 18.3 minutes, 1.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Last season he played 45 games and averaged 21.5 minutes, 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Golden State has no games without him this season, so there is no with-and-without record to read. The injury report is crowded: Stephen Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are also listed as out. Draymond Green and Charles Bassey are Day-To-Day. Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, De'Anthony Melton, Georges Niang and Gary Payton II are among the players in the rotation who can absorb minutes.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether the Oct 26 return date holds. The Warriors have not announced anything beyond what the report lists, so Horford's availability after Saturday is not confirmed. Watch the status of Curry, Podziemski and Green as well, since their availability shapes who plays the center minutes in Phoenix and in the games after it. Golden State is looking for its first win of the season.
Is Al Horford playing against the Suns on Saturday?
No. Horford was ruled out for Saturday's game at the Suns with a back issue, according to the official injury report.
When will Al Horford be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct 26. The team has not announced anything further.