Warriors’ Absence of Stars Showed in Lopsided Loss to Thunder

The Golden State Warriors were shorthanded to say the least against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their absence of key personnel certainly was obvious in the 131-94 loss. The Warriors had won five or their last six games with a healthy lineup, and this one felt like they almost didn’t have a chance before tipoff. Golden State was without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. In addition, Jonathan Kuminga was set to return from a six-game absence from injuries but was ruled out with lower back soreness.

It left the Dubs way too shorthanded. Green was out with rest, Butler popped up on the injury report late Friday with an illness, and Curry tweaked his left ankle on Wednesday in their win over Charlotte. Curry made a callback to his injury issues that plagued his early career, calling it a "little blast from the past," and he isn’t expected to have lingering problems.

Here is the full story from Warriors Roundtable writer Kyle Ngo on the skeletal lineup that couldn’t get it done.

Golden State’s thin lineup looked clearly outmatched by the second quarter, and the game kept overwhelmingly going in the Thunder’s favor. The final score was incredibly lopsided, but it’s not one that exactly illustrates this team at its best when they were down four crucial starters, one of them being Steph Curry. The Dubs will look to bounce back on Saturday against the Utah Jazz.