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In the midst of all the attention being given to Stephen Curry as he scored the Warriors’ final 12 points, ultimately spoiling Klay Thompson’s return to the Bay Area, it was evident that Golden State guard De'Anthony Melton was struggling with some discomfort. Despite being visibly hobbled and playing through an injury, Melton displayed true grit and determination as he managed to tough it out and complete the game.

That something turned out to be a sprained left ACL, the team announced.

Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton has a sprained left ACL and will undergo further tests. He will not play in tomorrow night’s game against the Grizzlies and an update on his status will be provided when available.

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) November 14, 2024

There is no timeline for his return and how long he is out will depend on the severity of the sprain, but this is at least weeks Melton will be out. It's not clear exactly when Melton injured the knee.

This is a blow to the Warriors 'depth, Melton had just moved into the starting lineup for two games (including against Dallas) and thrived in that role averaging 16.5 points, 7 rebounds a game (up from his season-long numbers of 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds a night). Melton had already missed five games this season due to a lower back strain. The Warriors, using their depth, won all five of those games, but in the biggest stages they will need Melton's two-way play.

With Melton out, expect Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski to get a little extra run.

Melton joined the Warriors on a one-year, $12.8 million contract (the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception). He is an unrestricted free agent next summer.