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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Golden State Warriors shooting guard De'Anthony Melton has sprained his left ACL, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
The young combo guard, who was inked to a one-year, $12.8 million deal this summer by Golden State, is now sidelined indefinitely. Given that the injury is merely a sprain, and not anything worse, it's unlikely he'll miss major time.
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Melton will at least miss out on the Warriors' next matchup, against the 7-5 Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
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After a slow start to his Warriors tenure, Melton has stepped up in the last two contests, having been promoted to a starting gig next 10-time All-Star point guard Stephen Curry. In those two bouts, both wins, the 26-year-old averaged 16.5 points on a .478/.500/.667 slash line, 7.0 boards, 3.0 dimes and 2.0 swipes a night, across just 26.6 minutes.
Prior to going down, it appeared that Melton's promotion to a starting role was seen by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr as being permanent, Slater notes. Beyond the Curry-Melton backcourt, Kerr's preferred first five is rounded out by small forward Andrew Wiggins, power forward Draymond Green, and second-year center Trayce Jackson-Davis.
"I think it gives us a really good two-way lineup," Kerr said. "You saw what (Melton) can do at both ends."
It appears Melton suffered the ailment in a Tuesday victory over former Warriors All-Star swingman Klay Thompson and the rest of his new team, the Dallas Mavericks. Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Melton appeared to be limping during the fourth frame of that matchup, though he did stay in.
Golden State had moved swiftly to replace Thompson upon his departure for Dallas in a three-year, $50 million sign-and-trade agreement this offseason. In addition to Melton, the Warriors also brought on his former 76ers teammate Buddy Hield, as well as ex-Minnesota Timberwolves combo forward Kyle Anderson.
Read more: Warriors Add Veteran Guard Following Klay Thompson Departure
A back sprain had previously sidelined Melton for five games earlier this season. Back issues had previously been a problem for him during his final season with the Philadelphia 76ers, 2023-24, in which he missed 40 of his last 45 games.
Across his six healthy contests for the Warriors this year, the 6-foot-2 former No. 46 overall draft pick out of USC in 2018 is averaging 10.3 points on .407/.371/.625 shooting splits, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals a night, across 20.2 minutes per.
At 9-2, the Warriors currently occupy the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, behind only the mighty 10-2 Oklahoma City Thunder. Thompson's 5-6 Mavericks, meanwhile, are currently the West's No. 12 seed.
Read more: Steph Curry, Draymond Green Send Klay Thompson Message Ahead of Warriors, Mavericks Clash
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