Center Zaza Pachulia is to be sidelined for a week after injured his shoulder in the game against Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Jan. 29. He has a strain in rotator cuff and expected to miss at least one week of the game.
The Warriors announced the result of MRI and his absence on Wednesday, Feb.1, SF Gate reported. Pachulia injured his shoulder as he dove to secure the ball in the fourth quarter of the 113-111 win against Trail Blazers in Portland.
He stretched his arm as he reached out for the ball and landed in an awkward position. The MRI result showed the injury is not serious with a strain in his left shoulder’s rotator cuff and no structural damage. He will undergo treatment to recover the strain and expected to miss at least one week.
Pachulia is scheduled to another evaluation after a week, according to NBA.com. Afterward, the doctor will determine the time when he is clear to play.
This has been an unfortunate news for Warriors as they have missed veteran big man David West for two weeks after a fracture in his left thumb after the game against Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 18. Both West and Pachulia are the two key players in the front court and their presence is important in the coach Steve Kerr defensive strategy.
In their absence, coach Kerr played JaVale McGee as the starting center in the Wednesday night game against Charlotte Hornets with Anderson Varejao backed him up. Coach Kerr deployed a different strategy in defensive end as they managed to win 126-111.
Golden State Warriors played their next game visiting Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center this Thursday and won 133-120. Afterward, they will go to Sacramento to play against the Kings at the Golden 1 Arena on Saturday.
Watch the interview with Pachulia regarding his shoulder injury before the game against Hornets on Wednesday, Feb. 1 below:
