Injured Russell to return vs. Grizzlies; Curry goes through shootaround in L.A.
LOS ANGELES >> Warriors point guard D’Angelo Russell missed his sixth straight game with a bruised right shoulder Friday night, but a familiar face was on the bench for the game against the Clippers.
Stephen Curry traveled with the team for the first time since he suffered a broken left hand in the fourth game of the season. After the team’s shootaround Friday morning, Curry went through a lengthy workout for the fourth day in a row. He shot 3-pointers with long-time teammate Draymond Green.
Curry still is weeks away — at best — before returning to action, but coach Steve Kerr said Russell will play in Memphis on Sunday.
Russell injured his shoulder in a collision with Luka Doncic in last Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks. In his absence, Ky Bowman, Jacob Evans and Jordan Poole will continue to see more playing time.
Bowman, who has used 41 of the 45 days he can spend with Golden State under his two-way contract, played Friday, but will sit out Sunday’s game in Memphis. After, he will rejoin the Warriors’ G League affiliate, which plays in Memphis on Monday.
Center Kevon Looney (left abdominal soreness) missed his ninth straight game. Kerr said Looney, who had progressed to on-court work, is “looking better” but did not put a timeline on his return.
Curry’s recent workouts have included cameos by Steve Nash, team consultant Zaza Pachulia, teammate Alec Burks and assistant coach Bruce Fraser. The two-time MVP has looked impressive shooting without a cast or bandages on his surgically repaired left hand.
“He looks great,” Kerr said. “He just started really getting onto the court and shooting and moving around, so he’s got a ways to go. But it’s good to see him out there.
“Even him not picking up a ball for two months, I expect him to make every shot. It didn’t surprise me watching him work out.”
The earliest Curry could be cleared is Feb. 1, though the team wants to make sure he is fully recovered before he plays another NBA game, and is setting a tentative return for sometime in March. Curry has been on the Warriors’ bench at home games over the last month.