The Long View · Morning

Tonight Is the First Real Look at Kerr's Rotation

Eight rested regulars return against Sacramento tonight, giving Golden State its fullest look yet before center duties get sorted out.

By the Warriors Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 10

Eight Warriors regulars carrying a day-to-day rest tag are set to return tonight against the Kings, reversing the thin lineup that lost at Portland on Oct. 7. The frontcourt picture still turns on one open question: who plays center with Porzingis out indefinitely and Butler sidelined into January.

Warriors Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Why Is Half the Roster Back at Once?

Eight players carry a day-to-day rest tag with an expected return date of today: Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, De'Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II, Georges Niang, Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg. All eight sat out the loss at Portland on Oct. 7, when Golden State traveled without most of its regulars. Tonight's group will look far closer to what Kerr intends to open the season with on Oct. 21.

The Opponent Across the Court

Doug Christie's Kings are also 0-0, but arrive on one day of rest after the second of two straight road games, while Golden State had two days to prepare. Sacramento is further thinned by day-to-day tags on Malik Monk, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Leaky Black. Last season this group went 22-60 with a defensive rating of 120.3, well short of the 114.4 the Warriors themselves posted.

The Number: Eight

Eight is how many regulars are expected back tonight, and with Al Horford cleared from his own day-to-day tag on Oct. 8, Kerr has close to his fullest group of the preseason. The exceptions are long-term: Butler, out with a right knee issue until early January, and Moses Moody, out with a left knee injury until December.

Who Starts at Center?

Porzingis remains out indefinitely with no return timetable, first reported Sept. 28, and Butler is gone until the new year. That leaves Horford as the most experienced center in the building. Monte Poole has already written about Golden State's options at the position; tonight is the first chance to see which combination Kerr actually prefers before Oct. 21 starts counting for real.

Is Kristaps Porzingis playing against the Kings tonight?

No. Porzingis has been out indefinitely since late September with no return timetable reported.

When do the Warriors play their regular-season opener?

Oct. 21 on the road against the Lakers, the third time the two teams meet in three weeks counting the preseason.

By the Warriors Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.