Warriors vs. Suns injury report: Green and Lee out, Beal questionable

A new NBA season is upon us at last! Expectations are high for the Golden State Warriors, as they seek to win a fifth ring in 10 years. Expectations are also high for their first opponent, the Phoenix Suns, who retooled in the offseason to try and make a championship run.

It should be a spectacular game, filled with storylines like Chris Paul making his Warriors debut, and Kevin Durant playing in front of fans at Chase Center for the first time. Unfortunately, it seems like each team will be missing a core All-Star player.

Here’s the full injury report ahead of Game 1.

Warriors

Out — Draymond Green (left ankle sprain)

There was some talk that Green, who injured his ankle in late September, might return for opening night. And were this the first game of the NBA Finals instead of the first game of the regular season, perhaps he would. But there’s no reason for the Dubs to rush him back, when he only just started playing five-on-five again.

Suns

Out — Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery)

It was a tough start to his second year in the desert for Lee, who suffered a knee injury during training camp and recently underwent surgery. Lee is out indefinitely, but has a good shot at returning this season. I’m sure he’ll be bummed to missing a game against the team he spent four years playing for, and going up against his brother-in-law, Steph Curry.

Questionable — Bradley Beal (lower back tightness)

The big move of the Suns offseason impacted the Warriors, as they shipped Paul to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Beal. Paul was, of course, then flipped to the Dubs for Jordan Poole. Beal joins Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, to give the Suns three of the top scorers in the NBA. But it sure looks like the Warriors won’t get to see him this time around.

Update: Beal has officially been ruled out.

Probable — Devin Booker (left big toe soreness)

Players who are listed as probable almost always play, and you can pretty much guarantee that Booker will. Not only has there been no talk of him missing the game, but I can’t imagine social media would ever let him live down missing a nationally-televised season-opener with a sore toe. That’s reason enough to pop an ibuprofen and lace up your sneakers.