Curry probably won’t play Saturday.
OAKLAND — Stephen Curry will probably be unable to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Thursday.
“It’s tough to see him playing Saturday,” Kerr said of Game 3 at Portland.
Kerr said it was conceivable Curry could return from a sprained right knee for Game 4 on Monday after the reigning MVP completes a three-day process in order to return to action.
Curry has yet to play 3-on-3, according to Kerr. But the head
coach laid out a scenario in which Curry could play 2-on-2 with assistants before Saturday’s game and practice Sunday.
“We need to see him in rhythm, cutting, moving and see how he responds the next day,” Kerr said.
Curry has been ramping up workouts in the weight room and doing some drills on the court apart from the rest of the team.
“The good thing is that he’s gotten better and better each day with his rehab, and so now he’s taking things out onto the court,” Kerr said. “So if that progress continues, then yeah, it’s conceivable he could practice with us on Sunday and get some timing and rhythm and see how he responds.
“Everything’s gone very smoothly. He hasn’t had any setbacks.”
Monday would mark two weeks since Curry underwent an MRI exam that revealed a Grade 1 MCL sprain. The team announced a rough twoweek timetable for Curry’s return to basketball activities, and soon afterward, he said he underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy.
The Warriors have won three-consecutive playoff games without Curry since the knee injury, as they have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Trail Blazers.
“If I were in Steph’s situation, I would know I would rather be 100 percent, or near it,” backcourt mate Klay Thompson said. “Just go out there and give it my all rather than maybe being a little gimpy out there or something. We’re not in a threatened position so much right now so we can still play with a great sense of urgency but take our time not rushing him back.”