The Golden State Warriors will be without reserve guard Brandon Williams for at least a week after he strained his left hamstring during Monday night's 138-87 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, team sources told ESPN.
Williams entered late in the first quarter, burst to the rim for two quick layups but came up hobbled on the second and limped to the locker room after only 99 seconds of action.
The Warriors soon announced that Williams was out with a hamstring issue and scheduled for an MRI. Those results revealed the mild strain, ruling him out for the Warriors' difficult upcoming road trip to Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas and Memphis.
Williams has been an immediate bench spark in his first season with the Warriors, averaging 10.4 points and 2.3 assists in only 16.4 minutes per game, providing scoring punch the moment Stephen Curry rests. Williams has 17 and 20 points in the two games that Curry missed this season, including a win over the LA Clippers as part of the Warriors' current eight-game win streak.
But left hamstring issues have followed Williams early in his NBA career. He strained it in the 2025 preseason while with Dallas and subsequently missed time last March while dealing with tightness.
The Warriors, while surging at 8-3, are significantly depleted. Starting wings Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are rehabbing serious knee injuries, projected starting center Kristaps Porzingis has stepped away from basketball entirely and they lost backup guard Will Richard to a UCL tear in his left thumb over the weekend.
Richard has been upgraded to questionable for the Warriors' game in Houston on Wednesday night. He has explored the feasibility of wearing a splint on his left thumb and playing through the injury. Gary Payton II is out with left knee inflammation.
