Lakers List Key Starter on Injury Report for Warriors Game

The Los Angeles Lakers head to San Francisco on Friday night to face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, and they will do it with one of their starters listed as questionable.

Small forward Ziaire Williams is questionable with left foot and heel injury management, while point guard Luka Doncic is off the injury report after sitting out Wednesday's game with back tightness.

Williams missed Wednesday's game against the Clippers with left foot soreness, as the Lakers were on the second night of a back-to-back and ruled out both him and Doncic before tipoff.

Head coach JJ Redick explained the thinking before that game, telling reporters, as reported by the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner , that both players woke up sore and tight.

"We have a tough stretch of games. Not a lot of time between [games so] just being overly cautious," Redick said.

Redick was also asked if both players would be ready for Friday and said that was the hope, which has already come true for Doncic.

Williams is still a game-time call after missing the Clippers rematch , and Friday's matchup is the Lakers' fourth game in six days, so I understand the caution.

Williams has started all four games he has played this season, averaging 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 57.1% from the field and 46.7% from three.

He has given the Lakers good scoring for a player whose main job is defense, so losing him would take one of the Lakers' better wing defenders off the floor against a Warriors team that takes plenty of threes.

Center Walker Kessler is also on the Lakers' injury report but is available and will keep wearing a splint on his left finger.

Kessler has played in all five games and is averaging 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Rookie shooting guard Cameron Carr is out with a right oblique strain and has yet to make his NBA debut, and small forward Adou Thiero is out with left knee injury management.

The Lakers have also already won without key pieces, since they beat the Clippers 103-87 on Wednesday without Doncic and Williams, as shooting guard Quentin Grimes scored 23 points and led a strong defensive night , while shooting guard Collin Sexton gave them a big lift off the bench .

Doncic being back is the biggest news for this game, since he is averaging 36.0 points per game, and he scored 28 points when the Lakers beat the Warriors 127-105 on opening night.

The Lakers are 4-1, and this game is also their NBA Cup opener, so a win would give them a strong start in group play.

Golden State is 2-3 but has won two straight, and the Warriors will be without small forward Jimmy Butler, shooting guard Moses Moody and center Kristaps Porzingis.

If Williams can play, I like the Lakers to win this one, because I think their starting group with Doncic and Williams together is one of the best in the West.

After Friday, the Lakers return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.