Curry out at least 3 weeks but could be back for playoffs

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry will miss at least three weeks with a sprained left knee, meaning the Golden State Warriors will be without their doeverything point guard and second-leading scorer for the rest of the regular season.

Curry could be back at the start of the playoffs next month if all goes well in rehabbing his latest injury. An MRI on Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team said Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs for Golden State.

The two-time MVP had returned from a six-game absence after his latest right ankle injury Friday night only to injure his left knee. In the third quarter of a victory against Atlanta, center JaVale McGee fell into him. Curry hobbled off the court grimacing, sat on the bench and put his head down.

The defending champions were already without their three other All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Green is likely to be back from a bruised pelvis for Sunday night’s home game against Utah. Durant is still recovering from a broken rib and Thompson has a fractured right thumb.

IRVING OUT 3-6 WEEKS

The Boston Celtics say point guard Kyrie Irving will miss three to six weeks after surgery on his left knee.

Irving had a “minimally invasive” procedure to remove a wire that had been placed in his knee during surgery to repair his broken kneecap from the 2015 NBA finals. The team said Saturday that Irving’s kneecap is fully healed and structurally sound, but the tension wire was irritating his tendon.

The Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. The playoffs begin April 14 — three weeks away. The longer estimate for his return means Irving would not be able to come back until the second round.