The Golden State Warriors’ biggest offseason addition is quickly turning into one of their biggest concerns.
Veteran center Al Horford exited Friday’s 127–123 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers with right hamstring tightness, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, and was later ruled day-to-day. Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed Horford is “unavailable” but acknowledged he did not know the extent of the injury.
“I’m not sure what it is,” Kerr said after the game.
Horford’s absence only intensified the Warriors’ problems inside, as Golden State lost its third straight game, crumbled on the glass, and struggled once again to defend bigger, more athletic frontcourts.
Warriors Get Overpowered Without Horford
Getty Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors is injured again.
Golden State’s downfall was rooted in one glaring issue: second-chance scoring. Portland repeatedly dominated the offensive boards and turned extra opportunities into points. Kerr pointed directly to that imbalance as the decisive factor in the loss.
“Tonight, what really hurt us was the second-chance opportunities,” Kerr said. “They kept getting extra shots, and that’s where the game turned.”
The Blazers collected 12 more offensive rebounds, converting them into a lopsided 28-10 margin in second-chance points. Horford, who was signed to address the interior weakness, played only 18 minutes before leaving with the injury. He finished with seven points, six rebounds and three assists but was minus-5 before exiting in the third quarter.
Horford, 39, joined the Warriors on the full mid-level exception to stabilize the center position, yet he has now missed seven of Golden State’s first 18 games. His hamstring troubles and inconsistent availability have left the Warriors scrambling for solutions in a Western Conference where size and rebounding are essential.
Golden State Experiments With Big Lineups, but Issues Remain
In Horford’s absence, Kerr attempted to patch the interior by increasingly leaning on double-big lineups rotating Quinten Post, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Even so, those adjustments did not fix the rebounding gap, and Golden State once again struggled to secure defensive stops after initial contests.
Kerr insisted the Warriors are not broken defensively but admitted their offense lacks rhythm, calling this week’s upcoming practice time “much needed.”
Rumors Intensify: Could Horford’s Injury Push Warriors to a Trade?
As Horford’s status remains uncertain, Golden State’s frontcourt instability continues to spark speculation. Multiple league insiders believe the Warriors may consider a significant trade to stabilize the roster, particularly as forward Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15.
A potential match has emerged in Sacramento. According to Allen Stiles of Sactown Sports 1140, a team “down the freeway” — widely interpreted as Golden State — has shown preliminary interest in Kings center Domantas Sabonis, a three-time All-Star currently sidelined three to four weeks with a partially torn meniscus.
Stiles suggested that Sabonis’ contract may complicate negotiations, but his rebounding dominance could solve Golden State’s most pressing weakness. Kuminga, who previously drew Sacramento’s interest, could become a trade centerpiece once eligible.
The Kings reportedly offered Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick for Kuminga in the offseason, a deal the Warriors declined. With Horford hurt again and Golden State slipping to .500, the front office may be forced to revisit options they once ruled out.
Uncertain Path Forward
Horford’s hamstring issue may be minor in isolation, but it highlights larger questions about the Warriors’ roster construction. Golden State’s interior problems have lingered through the season’s opening month, and their most expensive reinforcement has not been consistently available to address them.
For now, Horford is “day-to-day.”
The Warriors’ window to fix the frontcourt may not be.
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