Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors: preview and player stats (Mar 7, 2027)

Smart has been suspended three games for throwing a punch during Wednesday's matchup against Golden State, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Smart, who was ejected from Wednesday's game for punching Charles Bassey, will begin serving his suspension Friday night against the Jazz, meaning he'll be eligible to return Wednesday versus Indiana. Bruce Thornton and Reed Sheppard should be in line for more minutes while Smart serves his three-game ban.

Head coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Adams could return as soon as Sunday's game at Washington, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports. The veteran center is still recovering from a right soleus strain and hasn't played since Oct. 23. With Adams and Clint Capela (ankle) both sidelined, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith figure to see increased burn at center.

Head coach Ime Udoka stated Monday that Capela (ankle) could be cleared to return either Nov. 15 in Washington or Nov. 16 in Miami, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports. Capela is missing a fourth straight game Monday against Denver due to a right ankle sprain, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. He'll presumably need to log 5-on-5 work before gaining clearance to play, though the Rockets haven't disclosed how far along the big man is in his rehab.

Butler (knee) could return sometime between January and February as he continues recovering from a torn right ACL, Anthony Slater of ESPN reports. Butler, who underwent surgery after suffering the injury Jan. 19, has progressed to individual court work but still has several rehabilitation milestones to clear. His next step involves landing comfortably after a game-speed jump. Coach Steve Kerr is hopeful Butler can rejoin Golden State for the latter portion of the season, though no official return date has been announced. The 37-year-old forward remains a significant part of the Warriors' plans and could provide a substantial boost during the second half of the campaign.

Curry has been diagnosed with an oblique abdominal tear and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Curry suffered the injury early during Wednesday's loss to the Rockets, with head coach Steve Kerr saying after the game that the superstar point guard "tweaked" something in his abdominal area. Curry has never dealt with an injury of this nature, so the Warriors, who are off to a hot start spearheaded by Rookie of the Year candidate Yaxel Lendeborg, will likely proceed with caution. Brandin Podziemski, Brandon Williams (hamstring), De'Anthony Melton, Will Richard and Gary Payton (knee) are all candidates for increased roles until Curry is cleared to play again.

Moody (knee) is progressing toward a potential return between December and January after rupturing his left patellar tendon in March, Anthony Slater of ESPN reports. Moody has been limited to individual court work, but team sources indicate he's ahead of Jimmy Butler (knee) in the rehabilitation process and is expected to return before the veteran forward. The 24-year-old still has several recovery checkpoints to complete, and Golden State has not established an official timetable. His eventual return would help replenish a Warriors wing rotation that will open the season without both Moody and Butler.

Porzingis announced on his social media that he's stepping away from basketball. Porzingis said he was looking forward to joining the Warriors, but his body didn't respond the way he wanted it too during his ramp-up process before the season. Additionally, he said he will work with the Warriors on a solution that "makes sense." Porzingis is making this decision to prioritize his health and will hopefully turn a corner soon on that front.

Williams (hamstring) will miss at least one week, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.com. Williams has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain in the aftermath of Monday's game against the Pelicans, and his status for Golden State's upcoming five-game road trip is in serious doubt. With Williams facing an extended absence, the Warriors are likely to lean more on De'Anthony Melton in the backourt.