The Golden State Warriors have just 10 players active against the Houston Rockets, and three are signed to two-way contracts.
Seven of their 14 players with standard contracts are out.
Six were ruled out Wednesday, including Stephen Curry (knee), Moses Moody (wrist), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Will Richard (ankle), Seth Curry (sciatica) and Jimmy Butler (season-ending ACL tear).
Gary Payton II was a late add to the out list with an ankle injury.
Before Thursday's game, Steve Kerr gave an honest and depressing assessment of the Warriors' injury woes.
"This is probably as beaten up a team as I’ve ever been around in my 12 years with the Warriors," Kerr said.
Warriors Have Major Issues on the Depth Chart
This is the Warriors' depth chart for Thursday's game:
PG: Brandin Podziemski, Pat Spencer
SG: De'Anthony Melton, LJ Cryer
SF: Gui Santos, Nate Williams
PF: Draymond Green, Malevy Leons
C: Al Horford, Quinten Post
Podz, Melton, Santos, Green and Horford are the confirmed starters. They will be supported by three players on two-way contracts in Cryer, Williams and Leons, one player who was on a two-way contract until February in Spencer and a second-year center taken 52nd overall in the 2024 draft in Post.
Meanwhile, the Rockets will have most of their core players available. Alperen Sengun (illness), Amen Thompson (ankle) and Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) are available after previously being listed as questionable.
It would be a massive upset if the Warriors somehow pulled out this game.
Porzingis Update
Porzingis got a pregame workout in before Thursday's game.
Kerr said there is still no timeline for a return, but he said he's feeling better.
"Hopefully that bodes well for him playing soon," Kerr told reporters.
Porzingis will miss his sixth consecutive game on Thursday. He's played just one game since Jan. 7 due to Achilles tendinitis and various battles with an illness.