Old news, but there's some info. -AL

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Pair of key Warriors sidelined for pivotal Pelicans matchup
Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II both missed Golden State's game
against New Orleans
>Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) takes a shot against Utah
Jazz’s Micah Potter (25) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San
Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area
News Group)

Danny Emerman is a Bay Area News Group sports reporter
By DANNY EMERMAN | demerman@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: April 12, 2024 at 5:48 p.m. | UPDATED: April 12, 2024 at 5:48
p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/04/12/pair-of-key-warriors-sidelined-for-pivotal-pelicans-matchup/

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors rested Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in
Portland with hopes of being at full-strength for a high-stakes game
against the Pelicans on Friday, but it didn’t work out that way.

Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II, two valuable two-way contributors,
were ruled out ahead of the New Orleans matchup in Chase Center. Kuminga
suffered a right pelvic contusion against Portland and Payton has
tightness in his left calf.

“He fell and bruised his tail bone,” Steve Kerr said of Kuminga. “He’s
in a lot of pain. And with Gary, it’s a calf. Trying to be cautious with
it.”

A win against the Pelicans Friday night, coupled with a win in Game 82
against the lowly Jazz, would give the Warriors a strong chance at
reaching the eighth seed. In that scenario, the Warriors would have two
chances to advance out of the play-in round and have a shot at avoiding
the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round.

But the Pelicans are tough, especially if you’re short-handed.

New Orleans is down star wing Brandon Ingram, but is otherwise healthy.
They just cruised past Sacramento on Thursday night and have won three
straight entering the Friday night contest.

Kuminga missed six straight games at the turn of the month with
bilateral knee tendinitis, so this new injury is unrelated. Payton dealt
with a calf injury earlier this season, but Kerr said he thinks his
current ailment is on the other leg.

In a breakout season, Kuminga is averaging 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds
per game. For large parts of the year, he has been Golden State’s most
consistent wing.

Depth is one of the Warriors’ strengths this year, but that will be
tested without Kuminga and Payton. Moses Moody and Kevon Looney could
see added playing time.

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Payton’s absence in particular could hurt the Warriors’ defense, which
they’ve ridden to a 9-1 record in their past 10 games. Payton’s
switchability and activity in the passing lanes make him a huge asset in
any lineup.

“I love watching Gary play,” Kerr said recently. “There’s an energy
about him. He also just makes the right play constantly.”

To keep their hopes of advancing up the play-in hierarchy alive, the
Warriors will have to find that energy elsewhere.

“Obviously, we want to just win every game and put ourselves in the best
spot possible,” Kerr said.