The Warriors are targeting a Saturday return for guard Stephen Curry, who has missed the past 10 games with a sprained right ankle.
“I doubt he’ll play tomorrow with a back-to-back,” head coach Steve Kerr said Thursday after practice. “I don’t think that makes much sense. He’s probably going to want to, but I think it’s more likely he plays Saturday (against Memphis). If all goes well, I expect him to play Saturday. Even if (the scrimmage) goes well, I would not expect him to play tomorrow.”
Curry went through practice Thursday, which included about 30 minutes of reviewing plays, before participating in a 3-on-3 scrimmage. He will get re-evaluated by team doctors Friday. Because the team wants to be cautious with Curry, it is unlikely to ask him to come back and immediately play both ends of the upcoming back-to-back set: Friday against Charlotte and Saturday against Memphis.
With around a minute left in the Warriors’ 125-115 win in New Orleans on Dec. 4, Curry lunged for a steal, missed and tried to stop himself from falling. His foot turned awkwardly, sending him tumbling. Curry climbed to his feet and limped toward the visitors’ locker room with a team trainer.
The good news for the Warriors is that they’re as equipped as any NBA team to weather the absence of a player of Curry’s caliber. With the two-time MVP sidelined, Golden State has gone 9-1.
The two-time MVP, who is slated to be re-evaluated on Friday, is averaging 26.3 points per game, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. Golden State tips off against Memphis at 8:30 ET on Saturday in Oracle Arena.
