Just back, Curry hurt again

Warriors superstar suffers new injury

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Allstar point guard Stephen Curry suffered a left knee strain in his first game back from an ankle injury as the undermanned Golden State Warriors beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-94 on Friday.

But no one wanted to talk about the win: All the focus narrowed on the health of two-time MVP Curry, who was injured when he collided with teammate JaVale McGee under the basket. Curry had just returned from a six-game absence due to an injured right ankle only to go down again. Denver 108, Washington 100 Indiana 109, L.A. Clippers 104 Cleveland 120, Phoenix 95 Minnesota 108, New York 104 Toronto 116, Brooklyn 112 Milwaukee 118, Chicago 105 Oklahoma City 105, Miami 99 San Antonio 124, Utah 120, OT Boston 105, Portland 100

“It is kind of a strange cruel twist of fate,’’ said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

The Warriors said Curry sprained his medial collateral ligament and was scheduled for an MRI on Saturday.

“It’s a little somber in there. Everybody feels for Steph,’’ Kerr said. “He’s in good spirits. I did talk to him. He’s disappointed. That’s part of it.’’

Curry’s latest injury just adds to the woes for the beat-up defending NBA champions.

Golden State was already without Kevin Durant who suffered a rib-cartilage injury last week. Curry’s backcourt sidekick Klay Thompson is rehabbing a fractured right thumb, and Draymond Green suffered a pelvic contusion in the Warriors’ loss Monday at San Antonio.

On Friday, Curry scored 29 points before spraining his knee in the second half. Curry frowned as he hobbled to the bench with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

He sat and put his head down before going to the locker room.

Curry had rolled the ankle at Atlanta on March 2 but initially kept playing before re-injuring it again.