SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry will return to the lineup Saturday in Sport 1 of the Western Convention quarterfinals in opposition to the Denver Nuggets at Chase Middle.
Curry, who hasn’t performed since March 16, was listed as “possible” on the Warriors’ harm report Friday, however coach Steve Kerr stated earlier than the sport that the All-Star guard would play below a minute restriction, although Kerr wouldn’t disclose what that may be.
“I cannot be beneficiant,” he quipped.
Curry will come off the bench as Jordan Poole began at level guard. The third-year guard joined Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Inexperienced and Kevon Looney within the beginning lineup.
The Warriors appeared optimistic Curry, who missed the final 12 video games with a sprained ligament and bone bruise in his left foot, could be out there firstly of the playoffs, regardless of him nonetheless experiencing what he referred to as Thursday some gentle “ache or discomfort.” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated it was “no shock” that Curry would play, which is what the crew had been making ready for all week.
“You'll be able to by no means permit an awesome offensive participant to chill out on protection, in order that’s all the time part of our sport plan,” Malone stated. “We’re not going to exit of our approach to see how Steph is transferring as a result of meaning we’re getting away from what we do. However with that stated, sure, we now have to discover a approach to make Steph Curry play on each ends of the ground as a result of if he’s simply allowed to play offense, he’s a three-time world champion, two-time MVP, we’ve all seen what he’s able to.”
Whereas most gamers would possibly battle getting back from an harm that stored them out for a number of weeks, the Warriors aren’t too nervous about Curry, who has a observe file of rebounding somewhat shortly from accidents — particularly round playoff time. Neither is Curry.
“There’s no actual concern I’ll be a step slower, I’ll be on the market exhausted within the first two or three minutes everytime you do get again as a result of I've been by way of it, I do know the work that goes into it,” stated Curry, who suffered knee sprains that sidelined him for components of the 2016 and 2018 playoffs. “I can push myself as soon as I get that inexperienced gentle to get again on the ground.”
Curry stated on Thursday that he has “excessive confidence” he can return to his earlier kind regardless of doubtlessly having solely two practices and 18 minutes price of a crew scrimmage below his belt after lacking a month resulting from his harm. Kerr attributed that confidence to his wealth of expertise and work ethic that helped him preserve his conditioning during the last month.
Kerr stated he’ll wait to see how Curry’s physique reacts to enjoying and can seek the advice of with the Warriors’ coaching workers earlier than figuring out the trail ahead for the remainder of the sequence, which continues with Sport 2 in San Francisco on Monday. Curry stated he’ll push to play as many minutes as potential.
“There are completely different phases of a participant coming back from harm and we’ll adapt accordingly as we go, but when the coaching workers says can’t play him past X than we don’t play him past X although Steph and I'll each be upset,” Kerr stated.
In 112 profession playoff video games, Curry has averaged near 38 minutes and 26.5 factors per sport.
In three video games in opposition to the Nuggets this season, Curry averaged 38.7 minutes and 27.3 factors. He was a mixed 11-for-33 from the 3-point line.
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Curry got here into the sport with slightly below six minutes to a roar from the Chase Middle crowd. He joined Thompson and Inexperienced, their first time sharing the court docket within the playoffs since June 13, 2019 within the Finals in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
Inexperienced and Thompson subbed out shortly after, not after placing collectively some explosive performs on offense. Considered one of which resulted in a Inexperienced dunk. Curry completed the primary quarter with two assists and one rebound, no factors, in six minutes. It was simply the tenth time in his profession that Curry didn’t make a area aim try within the first quarter, first time since Dec. 7 2013.
Within the second quarter, Curry’s key minutes got here within the closing minutes together with Inexperienced, Klay, Poole and Wiggins. Curry’s first factors got here on a goal-tended layup, and his subsequent factors got here on a large open 3-pointer within the half’s ultimate seconds to provide the Warriors an 11 level lead heading into the break.