Five Numbers Say the Warriors Are Two Players Waiting for December
Golden State's early numbers describe a team built on Curry and Lendeborg. The rest of the plan is on the injury report.
The Warriors are 2-3 and 10th in the West after two road wins, and the box scores show how narrow the base is. Until Butler, Porzingis and Moody return, the job is to hold position without wearing out a 38-year-old.
44, and sixteen of sixteen
Curry's 44 at Minnesota came on 11-of-27 shooting with all 16 free throws made, over 32 minutes. NBC Sports Bay Area noted it tied LeBron James for the most 40-point games after age 35. It shows that he can still carry a night by himself. It does not show that he should. Across his first four games he averaged 28.8 points in 27.3 minutes, which is the sustainable version, and 27 shots is a rescue, not a system.
22.6 a night, and seven turnovers
Yaxel Lendeborg is averaging 22.6 points and 9.2 rebounds through five games as a rookie, and he followed 31 and 12 at Denver with 26 at Minnesota. He is the second engine, and nobody else on the roster is close. The seven turnovers Wednesday are the other half of that. He can finish, but asking him to run the offense is still a request, not a habit.
88 to 31
Starters outscored the bench 88 to 31 in Minneapolis. Golden State led by 24 and won by five after the Timberwolves scored 33 in both the third and fourth quarters. That is a rotation running out of legs and answers, and the season numbers agree: a 117.8 defensive rating and a net of -2.0. The reason is not a mystery. Jimmy Butler's estimated return is January 2, and Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody are both pencilled in for December 1.
$219.8 million and a 33-49 pace
The payroll is $219.8 million against a $200.4 million tax line, so the fix will not come from a cheap signing. The current pace projects to 33-49, and that number means less than it looks. There are 77 games left, the Warriors are one game behind sixth-place San Antonio, and three of their five biggest contracts have yet to play. The point of November is not to win the month but to reach December in range with Curry still fresh, starting Friday against a 4-1 Lakers team.
When are Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody expected back for the Warriors?
Butler's estimated return is January 2, 2027, for his right knee. Porzingis, out with an illness, and Moody, out with a left knee issue, are both estimated for December 1.
Is Yaxel Lendeborg the Warriors' second-best player right now?
On production, yes. He is averaging 22.6 points and 9.2 rebounds through five games, although his seven turnovers at Minnesota show his playmaking is still developing.
