Steve Kerr: Stephen Curry Still Not Expected to Play vs. Spurs with Knee Injury

Don't expect Stephen Curry to be on the floor Saturday when the Golden State Warriors open up the 2018 playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.

Steve Kerr said Curry will be re-evaluated Saturday, but the head coach doesn't anticipate the guard will play at all in the first-round series, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

The two-time league MVP has been out since March 23 with a Grade 2 MCL sprain.

Curry played just 51 games this season as he dealt with the MCL sprain and ankle setbacks. He averaged 26.4 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game behind 42.3 percent shooting from deep.

While the Warriors have Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green and are better equipped than most to handle the absence of someone like Curry, their offensive rating was 120.4 when he was on the floor and 106.1 when he was off it this season, per NBA.com.

He is the engine that consistently drives the offense, and defenses must respect his ability to pull up from nearly anywhere in the half court, as it creates spacing advantages and openings for others in addition to the offense he provides.

Curry isn't the only injury concern in this series, though—the Spurs have been without two-way go-to option Kawhi Leonard for all but nine games this season as he recovers from a quadriceps injury.

The Warriors have the talent to get past a short-handed San Antonio side even without Curry but will likely need him to defend their championship in later rounds against the likes of the Houston Rockets.