Friday night’s matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves was already clouded by injury concerns, with the Warriors missing several key contributors before tip-off.
Then, just one quarter into the March 13 battle, the Warriors suffered another devastating blow.
Veteran center Al Horford was forced to leave the court early after experiencing discomfort. Within minutes, the team delivered the official verdict that stunned fans and analysts alike.
Warriors Announce Al Horford’s Injury Status
Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball while being defended by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Getty Images)
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Al Horford has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with right calf tightness. The announcement landed like a bombshell on a Warriors squad already fighting for playoff positioning.
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The news only added to an already injury-riddled night for Golden State.
Heading into the contest, the Warriors were already without star forward Jimmy Butler, whose season-ending ACL tear occurred well before the NBA trade deadline. Stephen Curry remained sidelined as well, continuing to manage a lingering knee issue. While Curry is not expected to miss the rest of the season, his absence has stretched far longer than initially projected—an update earlier this week indicated he would be out for at least another 10 days.
Just before tip-off, the team also downgraded Draymond Green to a late scratch due to a lower-back concern. With no clear timeline provided, the Warriors opted for caution to manage the veteran forward’s recovery.
Now, Horford joins the growing list of Warriors to monitor closely. The veteran logged just five minutes before exiting, finishing with three points (1-of-3 from the field, all from beyond the arc), one rebound, and one turnover.
With multiple All-Stars and rotation pieces already unavailable, this latest calf tightness diagnosis represents yet another significant setback for a Golden State team desperately trying to stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race.