Al Horford will remain out for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has missed 13 games in a row with a lingering calf injury, and his absence against L.A. will mark his 14th consecutive contest on the sidelines.
Horford has been a key rotation piece for head coach Steve Kerr this season. In his first season with the Warriors, the five-time All-Star is averaging 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.7 triples in 21.7 minutes per game.
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The Warriors have been decimated by injuries this season, and Horford has also missed considerable time.
Golden State Warriors center-forward Al Horford (20) waits for action to resume in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers.Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Kerr had some good news on Horford ahead of Thursday’s game, though. According to the four-time NBA champion coach, Horford took a significant step in his road to recovery.
Kerr announced that Horford took part in a five-on-five scrimmage on Thursday. In this light, the Warriors coach is hopeful that Horford will be ready for the team’s next game.
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Golden State plays twice in two nights. After Thursday’s game against the Lakers, they face the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
The Warriors host a shorthanded Lakers side at Chase Center on Thursday. While LeBron James will return to action, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remain out with significant injuries. Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes also remain sidelined for the hobbling Lakers.
Standings-wise, this is a non-bearing game for the Warriors. They are already locked for the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference and are heading to the play-in tournament again.
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However, there is no denying that the Warriors will be eager to score a win against James and their rival Lakers on Thursday night.
Related: Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Reacts to Heartfelt Moment During Kings Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.