Steve Kerr Hopeful Stephen Curry Will Return from Injury During Warriors Road Trip
Steve Kerr is optimistic that Stephen Curry will return to the lineup at some point during Golden State's six-game road trip after suffering a pelvic injury, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
An MRI confirmed that Curry suffered a pelvic contusion after a hard fall in the Warriors' 117-114 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.
The Warriors announced on Friday that an MRI showed "no structural damage" after Curry exited late in the third quarter. He will be "re-evaluated on Monday."
"He will not travel with the team to Atlanta this morning and will not play in tomorrow night’s game against the Hawks," the team said.
The Warriors will start off their road trip against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday before traveling to Miami on Tuesday, New Orleans on Friday, San Antonio on Sunday, Memphis on Tuesday and top it off back in California against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
Golden State last faced Atlanta on Nov. 20, winning 120-97 behind Curry's 23 points and eight assists.
Curry has been averaging 24.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 39.4 percent from three. Without him, the Warriors will have to look elsewhere for scoring. Gary Payton II is expected to step in at point guard and is averaging 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 57.8 percent from the field in 14.8 minutes per game.
Trade deadline addition Jimmy Butler said that the team will have to play "perfect" without the presence of the two-time MVP.
“We can’t afford to turn the ball over,” Butler told reporters. “We can’t afford to foul. Because we don’t have the one individual who can automatically get us back into the game.”
The Warriors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 104-93 on Tuesday without Curry, who was sidelined for "rest" due to back soreness, per The Athletic's Anthony Slater. Butler stepped up in Curry's absence with 24 points in addition to 10 rebounds from Draymond Green.
