Charlotte @ Golden State preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2019 ) Charlotte 90, Golden State 137

Life without two-time MVP Stephen Curry is looking bleak for the Golden State Warriors, who will try to halt a two-game losing streak when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. The Warriors learned Friday that they will be without Curry for at least three months after he underwent surgery to repair a broken left hand.

Curry suffered the hand injury during Wednesday's 121-110 loss to Phoenix Suns, dealing another blow to a team playing without shooting guard Klay Thompson (knee). "There's no reason why we can't be the team that plays hardest every night," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters prior to Friday's 127-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. "We may not have the talent, but we can compete as hard as hell." D'Angelo Russell picked up the scoring slack by posting a season-best 30 points against San Antonio but he was just 9-of-24 from the field. Charlotte is wrapping up a four-game road trip and is coming off a solid 118-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (2-3): First-round draft pick PJ Washington is off to a superb start with averages of 15.8 points and seven rebounds. The Kentucky product scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting against Sacramento for his second-highest output of the season while also collecting eight rebounds. "I thought he imposed his will on that game immediately when he stepped on the floor," Charlotte coach James Borrego told reporters of the 2019 12th overall pick. "Right now we have a young man that has that potential to go down in the post and play out in the perimeter. That's a very complete young man."

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (1-4): Russell moved over to point guard and first-round pick Jordan Poole drew the start at shooting guard against the Spurs and the Michigan product, selected 28th overall last June, made four 3-pointers and scored a season-best 20 points. Kerr also said that highly competitive power forward Draymond Green will be on a minutes' restriction this season, an interesting decision in the wake of Curry's injury after owner Joe Lacob insisted the team won't be "tanking" for a high draft choice. "We're going to compete every night and live with the results," Green told reporters. "Are things that's happened a bigger blow to our chances? Absolutely, but as someone's who's healthy I'm not saying 'welp, it's over for the playoffs.'"

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Warriors have won 11 of the past 14 meetings and prevailed in last season's two matchups by an average of 29 points.

2. Green is just 4-of-15 shooting over the past two games while averaging five points during the stretch.

3. Charlotte PG Terry Rozier scored a season-best 22 against the Kings and is averaging 19.3 points over the past three games.

PREDICTION: Warriors 105, Hornets 101