The Long View · Morning

The Veterans Are Back. Now Kerr Has to Fit Them Around Lendeborg

Golden State's real test tonight in Denver is whether Curry, Green and the cleared bigs can share the floor with Yaxel Lendeborg without shrinking him.

By the Warriors Nightly Desk · Monday, October 26

The Warriors are 0-3 and 14th in the West, but Sunday's injury moves cleared four rotation players. Tonight is the first game where Steve Kerr's choices, not the injury list, decide the minutes.

Warriors Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Who is actually available

On Sunday, Curry, Green, Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford all moved from day-to-day to cleared. Gui Santos, Charles Bassey and Brandon Williams remain day-to-day, each with an estimated return of today. Butler, Moody and Porzingis stay out. That is a real rotation for the first time this season.

What Denver brings

The Nuggets are 1-1 under David Adelman. Nikola Jokic is averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists, and Jamal Murray 24.0 points. ESPN pointed to a 42-point showing from Murray. Cameron Johnson and Alpha Diallo are day-to-day. Tip is tonight, on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

The number that matters

Lendeborg is playing 34.2 minutes a night and shooting 44.4 percent on threes, with 18.7 points through three games. Curry has averaged 25.5 minutes. In Phoenix, Lendeborg scored 26 on 6-of-11 from deep while the closing five had no Curry and no Green. His workload was built on absences. It will not survive full health unchanged.

Who gives up minutes?

Santos, Williams and Ike carried starter minutes in Phoenix, and Melton scored 25 off the bench. Something has to give when Curry, Green and Podziemski return. Wednesday in Minnesota and Friday against the Lakers leave little room to experiment. If Kerr protects Lendeborg's touches, the offense stays whole. If he does not, the Warriors may find out how much of the early production was only circumstance.

Is Stephen Curry playing against the Nuggets?

Curry was cleared on Sunday after being listed day-to-day for rest. The Warriors play at Denver tonight.

What is the Warriors' record and where do they sit in the West?

Golden State is 0-3 on a three-game losing streak, 14th in the West with 79 games left.

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.