The calf injury that has limited Draymond Green over the past week is more malignant than initially thought. The Golden State Warriors confirmed that the calf injury relates to a disc injury in Green’s lower back, which will be monitored over the next two weeks before the power forward is re-evaluated.
The evaluations indicated the left calf soreness/tightness is tied to the involvement of a disc in his lower back.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 16, 2022
Draymond will receive physical therapy in the coming days and will continue to be monitored by the team’s staff. He will be re-evaluated again in two weeks.
Green remains an invaluable defensive presence in his 10th season, leading the Warriors in Defensive Box Plus/Minus and Defensive Win Shares, per Basketball-Reference.
Otto Porter Jr. has been starting at power forward in Green’s stead. The 28-year-old has been a valuable two-way player and is one of only four Warriors with positive ratings in Offensive and Defensive Box Plus/Minus.
The Warriors have faltered of late, dropping four of their past six. Their next game comes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night, who are 4-1 over their past five home games.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Warriors priced as +4.5 underdogs for their Sunday night matchup against the T-Wolves, with the total set at 216.5.