Warriors star Steph Curry making progress toward return from ankle injury
WASHINGTON D.C. — Steph Curry got upgraded from out to questionable on the Warriors’ official injury report, signaling a return to the court is near.
Whether he gets back on the court for Monday’s matchup with the Wizards or later this road trip will be determined soon.
At the team’s optional practice at Georgetown on Sunday, head coach Steve Kerr didn’t tip his hand as to whether his superstar point guard will return for the Wizards tilt. Curry got re-evaluated on Sunday and participated in practice.
“He looks good, but it’s all about how he feels after the workout tomorrow, so we’ll see,” Kerr said.
Curry has missed the past three games with a left ankle sprain — officially listed as a left peroneal strain. He injured his ankle in Golden State’s loss to the Clippers — the team’s only defeat so far this season. First, he rolled his ankle fighting through a screen. After exiting the game and stretching it out with a band on the bench, he immediately re-rolled it while trying to set a pick.
In three games played this year, Curry is averaging 18.3 points, 6.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds.
The Warriors are 3-0 in Curry’s absence, including a thrilling win on Saturday night in Houston.
“The last few years, we probably wouldn’t win those types of games,” Kevon Looney said at practice on Sunday.
Golden State has already matched their win total in games without Curry from last year, when it went 3-5 with its superstar sidelined. Kerr has reiterated that he believes this group is much more capable of withstanding absences to its best players, including Curry, because of its depth.
Although everyone within the team would rather have Curry healthy and available the Warriors take great pride in competing without him.
“If I’m honest, we’re all sick and tired of hearing that (expletive),” Green said after the win over Houston. “Steph is Steph, and we all know that. But, for some reason, when Steph’s out, everybody acts like we can’t play. We’re all so sick of it. And there’s been added motivation to win these three. If you think that hasn’t been mentioned, you’re out of your mind. We’re all NBA players, we’re All-Stars, first-round picks, you name it. And for some reason, every time Steph goes out, everybody acts like, ‘Oh man, the world has collapsed.’”
The world didn’t collapse for the 5-1 Warriors without Curry. And now a tough stretch against the Wizards, Celtics, Cavaliers and Thunder could include him back in the fold.