Warriors vs. Thunder watch guide: Lineups, injuries, player usage

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The Warriors will try to atone for their worst performance of the season when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 4 o’clock, with tipoff scheduled for 5:10.

The Warriors were atrocious two weeks ago at OKC, falling behind double digits less than four minutes into the game, trailing by 33 at the half and by as much 42 before closing the gap late and settling for a 120-92 loss.

[RELATED: How to watch Warriors vs. Thunder]

Both teams are in the midst of transition. The Warriors (2-7) are relying on an entirely new roster, with two rookies in the starting lineup. The Thunder (3-5) made two megadeals over the summer, resulting in three new faces – Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – in the starting lineup.

Side note: Referee Marat Kogut, described by Stephen Curry as the “MVP” of a loss at Minnesota in March, is part of the officiating crew. The Warriors have lost the last four games in which he was an official.

 

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PROJECTED LINEUPS

Warriors

F  Glenn Robinson III

F  Eric Paschall

C  Willie Cauley-Stein

G  Jordan Poole

G  D’Angelo Russell

Thunder

F  Terrance Ferguson

F  Danilo Gallinari

C  Steven Adams

G  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

G  Chris Paul

 

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: G Stephen Curry (left-hand fracture), G Jacob Evans III (left adductor strain), F Draymond Green (left index finger sprain), F Kevon Looney (neuropathy), F Alen Smailagic and G Klay Thompson (right ACL rehab) are listed as out.

Thunder: G Andre Roberson (left knee surgery recovery) is listed as out.

 

ROTATION OUTLOOK

Warriors: All 10 available players played at least 12 minutes Friday in an overtime loss at Minnesota on the first night of a back-to-back set. Robinson played 42 minutes and appeared gassed down the stretch. Russell played 40 minutes before fading in overtime. Expect the minutes of both to be reduced to the mid-30s ... C Omari Spellman is a candidate for more minutes. He’s playing well, making an impact at both ends, and might be considered to start against massive Thunder big man Steven Adams . . . Though Poole is struggling with his shot, he has so far remained in the starting lineup. Why? The Warriors anticipate him finding his stroke any day, knowing that when he does, they’ll be much more difficult to defend. With three guards unavailable, only Alec Burks is a candidate to start ahead of him.

Thunder: The four-guard rotation, featuring Dennis Schroder and Hamidou Diallo, along with Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul, has been a strength. Only Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging more than 30 minutes (35.0) per game, and he has been their MVP ... Gallinari, a terrific shooter who struggles to stay healthy, is averaging 29 mpg. The result: 18.9 ppg and 45.5-percent shooting from deep. The Warriors do not have a defensive answer to the challenges he poses . . . The Thunder is holding opponents to 28.7-percent shooting beyond the arc, the third-best mark in the league, and 42.1 percent overall, ranking sixth ... Though OKC’s offensive rebounding has ticked downward, their defensive rebounding remains strong, at 37.1 per game, ranking sixth in the league.

Officials: James Capers (crew chief), Curtis Blair, Marat Kogut.

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