BOSTON — Stephen Curry is “assured” he’ll be out there Friday evening even when it means he’ll must play via ache.
“I’m going to play. That’s all I do know proper now,” Curry stated Thursday after an damage scare in Recreation 3 of the NBA Finals the evening earlier than. “It’s only a ache tolerance factor that you just’ve obtained to cope with. Clearly, at this level within the sequence, in case you are ok to play, play.”
Curry was visibly shaken up within the closing minutes of the Warriors’ 116-100 loss to the Celtics Wednesday evening after Boston heart Al Horford rolled up on Curry’s left leg whereas diving for a unfastened ball late within the fourth quarter. Draymond Inexperienced stated he heard Curry wailing from the underside of the pile-up and pushed a Celtics participant off the distressed Warriors celebrity, leading to his sixth foul and a recreation ejection.
Regardless of the obvious damage, Curry remained within the recreation for about two extra minutes earlier than coach Steve Kerr pulled the starters with 2:19 left as a result of the Warriors had been down 14 with little probability of a comeback. However after the loss, the Warriors had been all involved for Curry’s left foot.
Curry, who made six 3-pointers and scored 31 factors, in contrast the damage to an analogous incident he skilled the final time the Warriors performed the Celtics in March, which triggered him to overlook the ultimate 12 video games of the common season with a sprained ligament and bone bruise in his left foot. In Golden State’s March 16 loss at Chase Heart, Boston guard Marcus Sensible rolled over Curry’s foot as the 2 dove for a unfastened ball.
“After I did it within the common season, I knew immediately that one thing was severely improper,” Curry stated. “Final evening, I knew I used to be damage, nevertheless it was not as dangerous. I might form of gauge whether or not I ought to keep on the market or not and never do any extra harm. That’s why I’m very assured I’m going to play tomorrow and preserve it shifting.”
Curry didn’t must endure superior screening on his injured foot. He spent the 12 hours after the collision in Recreation 3 resting whereas often dunking his left foot in an ice bucket.
Thursday was a relaxation and restoration day for the Warriors high-usage gamers, whereas the lower-minute guys obtained some pictures up at TD Backyard.
“We count on him to play tomorrow,” Kerr stated of Curry, “however I don’t have any particulars.”
Curry couldn’t disclose the extent of ache he’s experiencing or whether or not he would’ve powered via this damage for a regular-season recreation. He additionally didn’t consider the foot soreness would hamper his mobility.
“I’m ok to play,” he stated.
Curry’s well being is paramount to the duty of overcoming a 2-1 deficit within the best-of-seven Finals sequence. Solely in the future separates Recreation 3 and Recreation 4 in Boston — shrinking the restoration time for Curry.
With Curry not at 100%, different Warriors gamers might want to step up, together with Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole.
After an inefficient begin to the sequence, Thompson bounced again in Recreation 3, nailing 5 3-pointers and scoring 25 factors. In the meantime, Poole has struggled on each ends of the court docket all through this sequence, save for a formidable second-half outburst within the Warriors commanding Recreation 2 win.
“We simply want to assist Steph typically. He has been unbelievable this sequence, we’ll all do our greatest,” Thompson stated. “We’ll reply. I believe we’ll come right tomorrow, and I’m simply excited for the chance. We nonetheless have an opportunity to even out the sequence and take home-court benefit.”
