After missing each of the Warriors’ last four games, forward Andrew Wiggins is back in the team’s starting lineup ahead of Golden State’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at the Chase Center.
Wiggins was among a contingent of Warriors who did not travel to Toronto on Dec. 18 for a matchup with the Raptors as he instead flew directly from Boston to San Francisco near the end of the team’s last road trip. On Dec. 19, Wiggins tested positive for Covid-19 and entered health and safety protocols, but was cleared to return to practice Monday after the NBA released updated guidance for vaccinated, asymptomatic players.
With Wiggins back in the fold, the Warriors will also have Stephen Curry, Gary Payton II, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Kevon Looney in the starting lineup against Denver on Tuesday.
Toscano-Anderson takes the place of Draymond Green, who will miss his first game since entering health and safety protocols on Sunday following the Warriors’ 116-107 victory over the Suns in Phoenix on Christmas Day. In 32 games this season, Toscano-Anderson has averaged 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16.5 minutes per game.
During his pregame press conference, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noted that rookie Jonathan Kuminga is expected to play a lot Tuesday, indicating he and Toscano-Anderson will be partially responsible for replacing Green’s production and potentially defending Nuggets star Nikola Jokić.
“You probably don’t frustrate (Jokić), he’s one of those guys you try to limit the damage that’s coming,” Kerr said. “The biggest thing is you can’t give up the easy stuff. He’s so talented, he’s going to pick you apart and create a lot of points for them.”
Kerr said Monday Green was experiencing “very mild symptoms” and was in good spirits despite testing positive for Covid-19.
Aside from Green, guards Jordan Poole, Damion Lee and Moses Moody all remain in health and safety protocols. Poole has been out since Dec. 17, but had to quarantine in Boston following a positive test and did not return to the Bay Area until late Monday.
Kerr declined to give a target date for Poole’s anticipated return, but it’s possible he’ll be back in the lineup as soon as the team’s next matchup with the Nuggets, which is slated to take place Thursday in Denver.
Despite missing several key players, the Warriors will have Andre Iguodala available Tuesday after the veteran wing missed the last two games with a knee injury. Knee trouble has limited Iguodala to appearances in just four games since November 16 when the Warriors defeated the Nets 117-99.
Four members of Kerr’s coaching staff also remain in health and safety protocols as Mike Brown, Chris DeMarco, Leandro Barbosa and Dejan Milojevic will all be unavailable for Tuesday’s game.
Source: www.mercurynews.com