SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors return home facing a 2-0 series deficit without Draymond Green due to a shocking one-game suspension for a pivotal Game 3 of their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings.

That leaves an already-small Golden State team even shorter on big bodies and without its best defender for what could be a turning-point game for the defending champions. Now the Warriors’ coaching staff will have to get creative with their rotations to keep alive their dimming playoff hopes.

Without Green, Kevon Looney will be key as he is the only other Warrior who has been able to defend Kings big Domantas Sabonis and establish some consistency as a rebounder. Low-minute players and others who have fallen out of the playoff rotation will need to step up in Green’s place: Expect a lot more Jonathan Kuminga, Anthony Lamb, JaMychal Green and Moses Moody in the frontcourt Game 3.

Replacements are ready, but may not be enough to erase the loss. Green has played the second-most minutes behind Jordan Poole this season and the Warriors went 3-6 with a minus-6 net rating in the nine games he’s missed.

A staunch half-court Warriors defense headed by Green was one of the few things working against the fast-paced Kings in the first two games. Without it, a potent offense could very well get even more of what it wants, putting a quick and anticlimactic end to the Warriors’ disastrous and disappointing title defense. Still, there’s a slim chance that — even without the depth of talent they had last year — Green’s suspension could galvanize Golden State.

So what do the Warriors do without him? Here is our educated guess.

Who starts?

Kuminga typically starts when Green is out. But the 20-year-old has just one rebound and struggled in limited minutes through the first two games. The Warriors might opt to start him anyway because he’s grown exponentially as a player over the last few months and historically shined under the spotlight this season.

They could start Jordan Poole and lean fully into their offense with a three-guard lineup that has mostly failed them this year. The Poole, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson trio has barely played together this season without Green on the court — and has a minus-19.2 net rating in those rare few minutes.

“With these guys, you just move forward,” head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday. “It’s important for us to understand the job. The players see that.”

Moses Moody fell out of the rotation almost entirely this season but had a strong showing in Game 2 when a handful of Warriors found themselves in foul trouble early. Moody had four rebounds and four points in six third-quarter minutes. At 6-foot-6, the second-year player can slide in as a wing when the Warriors go small, and they may use him from tipoff.

They could also start Donte DiVincenzo, who started all but one regular-season game during Andrew Wiggins’ extended absence. Gary Payton II is an option to start in Green’s place, too, if the team determines it must get off on the right foot with strong point-of-attack defense against the speedy De’Aaron Fox.

Bigs off the bench

Count on the Warriors to play small, but they’ll need some size off the bench.

JaMychal Green played one minute during Game 2 when Looney landed in foul trouble, but has been out of the playoff rotation otherwise. Green was getting corner 3-point shots up after practice Wednesday. His utility is greatest as someone who can stretch the floor, but his defense could be an issue.

Lamb hasn’t played a second in the playoffs after having his contract converted from a two-way deal to make him playoff-eligible. Expect him to be called upon to play a few minutes in Game 3.