Al Horford’s rocky start in his new home hit another bump Friday night when the former Celtics center was sidelined with a left foot injury.. The Warriors struggled without him and Stephen Curry on Friday night as they dropped to .500 on the season with a blowout loss to the Nuggets.
The foot issue may help explain some of Horford’s struggles out of the gate with Golden State while coming off the bench in a reserve role. Over six games, Horford is shooting just 29.7 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from 3-point range while averaging 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Horford had his worst game of the season on Wednesday night against the Kings before sitting out Friday, missing all eight of his shot attempts, including seven from 3-point range.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr downplayed Horford’s slow start to the year in a radio interview on Thursday.
“Zero concern,” Kerr said of Horford on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “Because what I’m watching is the way he’s moving. I said this after the game and I’m sure people laughed, but it was real. It was honest. I thought he played a really good game [Wednesday] night, the ball just didn’t go in. All of his shots looked good, I thought every single one of them was going, and none of them went. So he’s at one of those stages right now, and it happens in every sport. A baseball player who, the ball, it’s coming off his bat hard, but it’s going right to people.
“Nothing is going Al’s way right now. It doesn’t shock me because it is really hard to go to a new team. But I’m watching the way he’s moving, his decision-making, how smart this guy is. He’s going to be just fine. I wouldn’t worry about Al.”
Horford is a career 37.5 percent 3-point shooter including hitting 36.3 percent of his attempts with Boston last season. He will face off with Boston for the first time in his new home on February 15. His next chance to return to the floor for the Warriors comes on Sunday night.
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