Stephen Curry Injury Update: Star Doubtful for Game 3 vs. Trail Blazers
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Friday that superstar guard Stephen Curry will miss Game 3 of the team's second-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers.
"No way tomorrow. I would say maybe a slight chance on Monday if he gets great work in," Kerr said on Friday's The Dan Patrick Show, per Andrew Perloff.
However, Kerr backed off those comments slightly later on, saying "I don't see him playing tomorrow," per William Lou of The Score.
Curry has remained sidelined since suffering a Grade 1 MCL sprain late in the first half of Game 4 against the Houston Rockets in Round 1. The Warriors announced April 25 he'd be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Saturday's game is still within the initial timetable. He'll reach the two-week mark Monday, which is also Game 4 against the Blazers. Based on Kerr's comments, it sounds like the talented point guard is making some progress, though his availability still isn't settled.
Warriors sideline reporter Rosalyn Gold-Onwude reported Thursday that Kerr wanted to see him take part in three-on-three or five-on-five practices before getting back in the lineup.
Diamond Leung of the Mercury News reported Tuesday that Curry said he received platelet-rich plasma treatment early in his recovery.
The Warriors are likely to be cautious as long as they continue to rack up victories without their regular-season leading scorer. They won each of the first two games against Portland by double digits despite his absence.
Curry, who averaged 30.1 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds during the regular season, has seen his numbers drop in the only two playoff games he's played. He also missed time during the opening round with an ankle problem before suffering the knee injury.
Getting him back to full strength is essential for the expected showdown with the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Unless the Blazers start to make a comeback, Golden State will probably let him focus on making a complete recovery.
