Warriors’ Gary Payton II, Quinten Post questionable Friday against Portland

Gary Payton II (0) steals the ball from Fred VanVleet (5) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Houston Rockets at Chase Center in San Francisco, on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle

PORTLAND, Ore. – Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II and center Quinten Post were questionable to play Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, according to the NBA’s injury report.

Payton is contending with right knee inflammation while Post is battling an illness. They both missed Golden State’s previous two games: a blowout victory Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns and a last-second loss Wednesday to the San Antonio Spurs.

Payton, 32 and in his ninth season as an on-ball defender, screener and cutter, briefly returned last Friday for the Warriors against the Denver Nuggets after missing four games with a partially torn ligament in his left thumb. On Sunday against the Houston Rockets, he logged over 20 minutes and supplied 16 points, five rebounds and three steals.

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He entered Friday averaging 6.6 points (57.9% shooting, 33% 3-point shooting), 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 60 games.

Post, a 25-year-old sharp-shooting rookie center, was scratched pregame Tuesday. He was ruled out Wednesday for his second straight absence, playing the previous 37 games. He entered Friday averaging 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists, shooting 41% from 3-point range

Payton and Post are rotational staples.

The Warriors (47-33) began Friday sixth in the Western Conference, which would allow them to avoid the four-team play-in tournament were it to last. Their season concludes Sunday at Chase Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. They began Friday with a 22-7 record since the team debut of star wing Jimmy Butler.

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Against Golden State, Portland was expected to be without guards Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson, wing Jerami Grant and center DeAndre Ayton. Guard Shaedon Sharpe was listed as questionable while forward Deni Avdija was listed as doubtful.