Brandin Podziemski questionable for the Warriors’ opener with lower back soreness, and Porziņģis won’t travel

Brandin Podziemski is questionable for the Golden State Warriors’ season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday because of lower back soreness. Steve Kerr said Monday that the guard tweaked his back in Sunday’s practice, sat out Monday’s session and is day-to-day.

The update came in the same session in which Kerr cleared Stephen Curry for opening night. Curry practiced in full on Monday after turning his right ankle at Sunday’s open practice (Curry story). Kerr also said Charles Bassey (knee tendinitis) did not practice and is day-to-day as well.

Kristaps Porziņģis will not travel with the team to Los Angeles. He remains out indefinitely because of a private health matter, Kerr said. Golden State was already set to open without Jimmy Butler, who is recovering from a torn right ACL and is targeting a January or February return, and Moses Moody, who is working back from a ruptured left patellar tendon with a December or January window.

What it means for the starting five

Podziemski is part of the group Kerr said he was “leaning towards” for opening night: Curry, Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green (Kerr’s lineup lean). Kerr started that five at least twice in the preseason. If Podziemski cannot play, Kerr will have to reshuffle on short notice, and he did not say Monday who would step in.

The depth is already thin. Moody is out, Porziņģis is not with the team, and Al Horford is on a plan of roughly 20 minutes a night, which is why Kerr wanted to bring the 40-year-old off the bench in the first place.

The Lakers’ side

Los Angeles had its own practice absences Monday. Bronny James was excused from practice with an illness, according to Lakers reporter Jovan Buha. Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero did not practice for undisclosed reasons, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen. Collin Sexton, who has been managing a lower-leg issue, practiced in full, according to Dan Woike.

What comes next

The first official injury report for Wednesday’s games is due Tuesday afternoon, and it will show whether Podziemski stays questionable or is upgraded. The Warriors and Lakers tip off at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday. Follow it in the Game Center, and check every team’s status on the injuries page.