Curry’s effect even more apparent since injury
OAKLAND, CALIF. — Stephen Curry pumped his fists and flexed his biceps. He dangled that signature mouthpiece from his teeth in sheer delight.
Oh, and he knocked down some of those familiar way-back 3-pointers, too.
Yes, Golden State's sharp-shooting star is feeling it again, and he's proud to be, in his words, "that presence that kind of gets us going." Yet Curry was ruled out for Wednesday night's game against the Clippers after he slipped during the morning shootaround and tweaked his troublesome right ankle.
In a 32-point, nine-assist performance against Denver on Monday, Curry wound up 9 for 17 overall while making 5 of 10 3-pointers. He remains a menace for opposing defenses even without his best shot.
Curry's mere existence on the court makes every Warrior better. Teammate Draymond Green shot 42.1 percent from the field while Curry missed 11 games with a sprained right ankle. In the five games since Curry's return, Green has hit 55.6 percent.
Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala have also shot better since Curry came back.
"That's why he's a twotime MVP in this league, that's why we have two championships," Green said. "He's become the superstar that he has even on a night where it wasn't quite his night, he filled the stat sheet up like that and impacted the game. Even if he didn't have 32 points and nine assists, what he brings to our offense and all the attention that he draws that gets me open shots ... he creates a lot of mismatches on the floor for the defense."
The reigning Western Conference player of the week, Curry has scored 29 or more points in seven straight games. He has scored 30 or more points in six of those seven games and 12 times overall this season.
Curry had been practically unstoppable in those five games since returning from the initial ankle injury, averaging 35.2 points over that span as well as 5.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.4 minutes. He also has four or more 3-pointers in seven straight games.
The Warriors have needed his steady hand with playmaking sidekick and Finals MVP Kevin Durant sitting out the past three games with a strained right calf. Durant was expected back Wednesday night while Curry won't play.
Considering Curry also had six turnovers Monday night, coach Steve Kerr hardly considered it one of his star's best games.