Draymond Green, Warriors
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Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors on the bench.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr leaned on veteran center Al Horford over longtime franchise pillar Draymond Green down the stretch of Monday night’s dramatic 114–113 comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies, a decision shaped largely by the continued absence of Stephen Curry.
The Warriors closed the game on an 11–0 run to steal their second win in three games, capped by Gui Santos’ game-winning putback. Green, however, watched from the bench as Horford anchored the closing lineup — a choice Kerr said reflects the challenge of playing dual-big combinations without Curry on the floor.
Kerr Details Lineup Challenge Without Stephen Curry
Speaking Tuesday, Kerr explained that Curry’s absence has narrowed Golden State’s margin for error offensively, forcing him to prioritize spacing and interior scoring late in games.
“Al in the Phoenix game and last night was playing so well,” Kerr said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “And I think without Steph, it’s easier for us to score if Al is at the five and then we space the floor around him.”
Kerr acknowledged the difficulty of pairing Horford and Green together without Curry’s gravity.
“It’s harder to find lineup combinations without Steph where we can play Dray at the four,” Kerr said. “If Al is playing like that — scoring inside and dominating the glass — then yeah, we’re going to play Al. Without Steph, it’s tough to put those guys together. Right now, it’s kind of an either-or.”
Warriors Rally Again With Defense, Size, and Execution
Golden State trailed by as many as 17 points before locking in defensively, holding Memphis to just five points over the final eight minutes. The comeback mirrored the Warriors’ 14-point rally against the Phoenix Suns four days earlier — another game in which Green sat during the decisive stretch.
Horford checked in for Green with 8:23 remaining after a Green turnover helped Memphis extend its lead to 108–95. From there, the Warriors controlled the glass, tightened rotations, and steadily chipped away.
Green logged just 24 minutes in each of Golden State’s last two wins.
Green’s Night Ends Early Despite Offensive Efficiency
Green finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Memphis but committed seven turnovers, the final one prompting Kerr to go another direction in the fourth quarter. In the Warriors’ comeback win at Phoenix, Green scored five points on three shots and grabbed five rebounds, again watching from the bench late.
Now approaching his 36th birthday, Green remains a vital leader, but his role — particularly in late-game lineups — has become more fluid as the Warriors navigate injuries and roster changes.
Warriors Front Office Pushes Back on Green Trade Speculation
Green was reported to be part of Golden State’s conceptual trade framework for Giannis Antetokounmpo, though no deal materialized. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. forcefully denied that Green’s future was ever in serious doubt.
“The idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated,” Dunleavy said. “It was never a possibility of him not being here, remotely close to me.”
Green later acknowledged on The Draymond Green Show that discussions with Dunleavy created genuine uncertainty, even if nothing was imminent.
“If we were to do a deal for Giannis, you or Jimmy would have to be in the trade just to make it work,” Green said. “He didn’t rule it out.”
Warriors Adjusting On the Fly as Season Tightens
With Curry sidelined and the postseason race tightening, Kerr’s willingness to prioritize fit over hierarchy underscores where the Warriors stand — searching for the most functional combinations to win now, even if it means reshaping long-standing roles.
For Golden State, Monday’s comeback was less about who finished the game and more about proving the Warriors still have answers — even as those answers continue to evolve.