Curry, Durant out, but not for too long

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant missed Monday night’s game against Sacramento — the first time this season both MVPs have missed the same game — but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr downplayed any fears their absences will become prolonged.

Curry has a bruised right hand, and Durant is nursing a sprained left ankle.

Curry hurt his hand Saturday night when he tumbled to the court during the third quarter of Golden State’s victory over New Orleans. The hand became swollen after the game, and the Warriors chose to proceed cautiously, especially with a six-game road trip starting Wednesday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

“There is not a huge level of concern long-term,” Kerr said before Monday night’s game. “I think he’ll play Wednesday. That’s the likelihood.

“KD’s injury has just been lingering. It’s not a huge level of concern, we’ll just take it day by day.”

Durant did not play for the third consecutive game, and the fourth time in five games. He injured the ankle Nov. 18 at Philadelphia, missed the next night’s game in Brooklyn and then came back to play Wednesday against Oklahoma City.

Kerr has said that, in retrospect, the Warriors probably shouldn’t have let Durant play against his former team. Green’s playtime: Draymond Green missed a game for the first time this season Friday night against Chicago, to collect some pre-planned rest. He wasn’t terribly thrilled about it, but he passed the time by joining Durant (who also missed the game) for a vigorous weightlifting session at Oracle Arena.

Then Green hung out in the locker room with his 11-monthold son, Draymond Jr.

“I just played with him and tried to help him walk,” Green said. “He was kind of afraid of the locker room, because it’s an unfamiliar setting, so he just kept climbing on me . ...

“I’m not forcing (walking), but I do try to help him. He’s stubborn. (Pause). I don’t know where he gets that.”

Green played Monday despite a bruised right foot he suffered two nights earlier. Briefly: Former Warriors forward Matt Barnes received his 2017 NBA championship ring in a brief pregame ceremony. Green presented the ring to Barnes, saying, “Everyone painted a picture of him as the worst guy, but he was the best teammate.” ... A survey of SportsBusiness Journal/Daily readers named the Warriors as the Best Model Franchise in Pro Sports, ahead of the New England Patriots and San Antonio Spurs.