Chris Paul is poised to make his return for the Golden State Warriors against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, as he is not listed on the injury report. Paul had been sidelined since January 5 due to a fractured right hand. During his absence, the Warriors experienced significant changes.
Also, Draymond Green’s return to the starting lineup alongside Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins in the frontcourt. Klay Thompson, previously a starter, has been benched for Brandin Podziemski. Despite these changes, Stephen Curry has remained a constant presence for the team throughout the season.
Paul is expected to assume more minutes coming off the bench alongside Thompson, a pairing that has proven successful for the Warriors this season. In approximately 500 minutes shared on the court, the Paul-Thompson duo has outscored opponents by 75 points.
Overall, the Warriors have maintained a plus-4 net rating during Paul’s playing time this season, addressing the historical challenges of managing Curry’s bench minutes.
With Paul’s return, the Warriors are poised to be at full strength for the first time in the season, solidifying their ideal starting lineup. Emerging players like Podziemski and Kuminga, coupled with veterans adjusting to new roles, have contributed to the team’s success.
If Paul can maintain his pre-injury performance level, the Warriors, currently on an eight-game winning streak in their last 10 games, stand a good chance to secure a higher seed in the competitive Western Conference and potentially bypass the Play-In Tournament.
