Klay Thompson Hopes Stephen Curry Can Return from Injury for Game 1 vs. Pelicans

After Tuesday's first-round, series-clinching win over the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson expressed hope that Stephen Curry will soon be able to play.

When Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated asked Thompson if he expects Curry to be ready for Game 1 of Golden State's second-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, he said, "I hope, but I'm not going to expect it."

Curry missed the first-round series and the final 10 games of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left MCL sprain.

On April 14, the Warriors announced Curry would be re-evaluated in a week.

While no concrete updates have been made public since then, head coach Steve Kerr did comment on Curry's status Sunday, saying he was "Not going to play anytime soon," per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.

During the regular season, Curry, a two-time MVP, put up big numbers once again with 26.4 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. He was efficient too, shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from long range.

The Dubs made easy work of the Spurs in the first round without Curry, taking down the perennial contenders 4-1.

Things could get tougher in the second round, though, as Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday are playing at a remarkably high level.

Golden State still has the overall talent edge with or without Curry due to the presence of reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green and the sharpshooting Thompson.

The Warriors have reached the NBA Finals in three consecutive years, and although getting to the Western Conference Finals without Curry is realistic, going all the way may not be assuming the top-seeded Houston Rockets make it to the Western Conference Finals.