The Golden State Warriors will be shorthanded Friday night as star guard Stephen Curry and forwards Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will sit out against the high-powered Oklahoma City Thunder.
Curry is out with a sprained left ankle sustained during Wednesday’s 132-125 road win over the Charlotte Hornets.
The injury means Curry won’t play against reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder on the home floor in San Francisco during the regular season. He also missed the first meeting, a 124-112 loss on Dec. 2, with a quadriceps injury.
Curry, 37, scored 26 points in 33 minutes against Charlotte. He finished December with a 30.1-point scoring average and 44 3-pointers for the month.
Curry is averaging 28.7 points in 25 games this season. He has made 119 3-pointers and is shooting 39.4% from behind the arc.
Butler awoke Friday with an illness and was added to the injury report. He had 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds against Charlotte.
Butler, 36, is averaging 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 30 games this season.
Green, 35, is missing the contest for rest on the front side of a back-to-back. The Warriors host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
Green had 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in 28 minutes against the Hornets.
Oklahoma City also defeated Golden State 126-102 at home on Nov. 11. The fourth and final matchup of the season is March 7, also on the Thunder’s home floor.
