SAN FRANCISCO -- For the second consecutive game, the Portland Trail Blazers are playing one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
And for the second consecutive game, they will do so without two starters.
Center Jusuf Nurkic and small forward Moe Harkless will miss their second consecutive game on Monday, when the Blazers visit the Golden State Warriors at 7:30 p.m. at Oracle Arena.
Nurkic (right ankle) and Harkless (left quad), who suffered injuries during a loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, were forced to miss the Blazers' last game, a 124-117 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
The Blazers fared well without the starters, carrying a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter en route to scoring their third-most points of the season. But it wasn't enough to prevent the NBA's hottest team from rallying for their ninth consecutive victory.
It's unclear who will start in place of Nurkic and Harkless, but coach Terry Stotts went with Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner against the Rockets. Leonard finished with 12 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes and Turner recorded four points and four rebounds in 27 minutes, as the Blazers (13-12) lost their fourth consecutive game.
The good news for the Blazers? The Warriors are also dealing with injuries.
All-Star guard Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle) and starting center Zaza Pachulia (left shoulder soreness) will not play, backup guard Patrick McCaw (nose contusion/concussion) is questionable and All-Star forward Draymond Green (right shoulder soreness) is probable.
Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman