SAN FRANCISCO — Al Horford missed his seventh consecutive game Monday night, but the veteran big man’s absence could be nearing an end.
“I think he’s got a chance to play the Christmas game,” coach Steve Kerr said before the Warriors tipped off against the Orlando Magic.
Horford, 39, has been dealing with right sciatic nerve irritation that has prevented him from playing since Golden State’s Dec. 4 loss at Philadelphia. Overall, the 19th-year center has missed 17 of the Warriors’ first 30 games this season, 11 due to the issue in his lower back.
One of the Warriors’ marquee additions this past offseason, Golden State signed Horford to add size on defense, spacing on offense and leadership in the locker room. The agreement came with the understanding that Horford would not play games on back-to-back days.
Even within those limited parameters, the marriage hasn’t paid dividends when Horford has been on the court. In the 13 games Horford has played, the Warriors are 7-6 and he has averaged 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game, on pace to set career-lows in each category.
Melton’s minutes
The Warriors’ other major offseason acquisition, De’Anthony Melton, continues to progress in his return from the knee surgery that ended his season last year.
Melton made his season debut on Dec. 4 and has averaged 6.7 points and 2.2 assists in 18 minutes per game. The 27-year-old point guard has played fewer than 20 minutes in four of the six games he has appeared in entering Monday night.
Kerr, however, said that was a product of the Warriors’ rotation — and crowded backcourt — than a minutes-restriction that was injury related. Rick Celebrini, the team’s trainer, recently cleared Melton to go “a few minutes” above 20.
“He’ll probably continue to play in the range that he is playing,” Kerr said.
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