Paschall could return this weekend for Dubs, Kerr reveals

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The Warriors are hopeful injured forward Eric Paschall will be able to play against the Houston Rockets on Saturday or at the New Orleans Pelicans next Monday and Tuesday.

Paschall, a First Team All-Rookie selection last season, has not played since Golden State's blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors in Tampa, Fla. on April 2, missing each of the 12 games prior to Tuesday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks due to a hip flexor.

"He's just gotta keep working," Kerr said of Paschall in a video conference with reporters before Tuesday's game. "In the NBA, it's all about self-preservation. We're gonna help every way we can, but it's individual workouts, it's 3-on-3. [Anything] you can do to maintain your conditioning and your rhythm, you have to do that."

Kerr said Paschall participated in a 3-on-3 scrimmage Tuesday, and he expects the second-year pro to play in a 5-on-5 scrimmage Wednesday. The Warriors will hold a light practice before embarking on their four-game road trip, and Paschall likely would play against and alongside his teammates "who haven't been playing much," according to Kerr.

Paschall was on the outside looking in at the rotation before his injury, but the 24-year-old's return could boost the Warriors' thin frontcourt.

Rookie center James Wiseman is out for the season, leaving Kevon Looney as the Warriors' only healthy natural center. Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson have played center in small-ball lineups, and Kerr said he could use Paschall at either the four or the five.

"We'll just see," Kerr said. "It'll all depend on circumstances."

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The circumstances didn't align for Paschall prior to his injury. He has played nine fewer minutes per game this season (17.3), taking three fewer shots per game (7.5) and averaging five fewer points (9.5) than he did as a rookie.

Paschall could yet still get a chance to work his way back into the rotation down the stretch. Starting Tuesday, the Warriors play their final 11 games in a 19-day span. With Golden State pushing to avoid a play-in spot amid a particularly condensed schedule, Kerr probably can't rely on an eight-man rotation to remain refreshed and rested, especially before the postseason actually begins.

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