Brandin Podziemski said he will not play against the Phoenix Suns, leaving the Golden State Warriors short again on the second night of a back-to-back slate. Steph Curry is also out, so the team goes into the game without two of its main guard options.
The timing matters because Podziemski had just given Golden State a jolt against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 18 points and working at the center of a couple of key plays on both ends. He had already missed the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a lower back strain, and this latest absence means the Warriors are still trying to get their first win of the season while shorthanded.
That is what gives the absence its weight. A player who was arguably the best on the floor in the previous game is being held out before the next one, and the club is treating the issue as most likely precautionary to avoid another back flare-up. The short version is simple: the injury has not been pushed, and the recovery is being protected rather than rushed.
That leaves the Warriors with an immediate problem and a longer one. They need to find enough handling and shot creation to survive Phoenix, but Podziemski’s next availability is still unclear. For now, the only certainty is that the back-to-back arrives before the relief does.
