Stephen Curry’s return cannot come soon enough for the Golden State Warriors.
And it looks as if the star guard will be back when the Warriors visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Though Curry is officially listed as questionable for Friday and Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Curry is day-to-day, Kerr added, “I’d be surprised if he didn’t play. He’s been trending upward.”
Curry missed Golden State’s past two games — a 124-115 loss at Atlanta on Saturday and a 112-86 loss at Miami on Tuesday — since he sustained a pelvic contusion in a 117-114 home victory against Toronto on March 20.
The Warriors (41-31) never led in the game against the Heat, but Kerr was unfazed because, before the consecutive losses, his team had gone 16-3 since adding Jimmy Butler in a trade with Miami in early February.
“I’m very confident with what we’re doing because since we’ve had Jimmy we’re a top five offensive team,” Kerr said. “I’m very confident we’ll be fine Friday.”
Golden State is in a tight battle to claim one of the top six spots in the Western Conference.
“We’re in the fight and we’ve got 10 games to go and I can’t wait,” Kerr said. “Friday is the biggest game of the year for us. We’ve lost two games in a row, very poor performances. It’s time and we’ve got to bounce back and that’s what good teams do. I’m confident that’s what we’ll do.”
Golden State experienced a setback Tuesday when guard Gary Payton II tore a ligament in his left thumb during the loss to the Miami. He is out for Friday and reportedly will be sidelined indefinitely.
Curry’s anticipated return isn’t the only reason for the Warriors to feel confident about a bounce-back performance Friday. They have won all three games against New Orleans this season — 124-106 at home on Oct. 29, 104-89 at home on Oct. 30 and 112-108 in New Orleans on Nov. 22.
Additionally, the Pelicans (20-53) have lost nine of their past 12 games, though they did win their most recent one, topping the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 112-99 on Monday night.
Zion Williamson will miss his fourth consecutive game on Friday due to a back contusion.
Without its leading scorer, New Orleans had five, six and five double-figure scorers the past three games. Against the Sixers, they had 36 assists on 43 field goals, one game after they had 35 assists on 49 field goals in a 136-130 loss at Detroit.
“We’re playing fast and we’re out in the open floor,” coach Willie Green said. “The key for us is doing it together, understanding that it’s not on one guy but collectively let’s step on the floor, let’s move the ball, let’s set screens, let’s find open guys, shoot the ball when you’re open, drive it. It’s beautiful basketball to watch.”
Among the double-figure scorers against Philadelphia — Karlo Matkovic (19), Antonio Reeves (17), Yves Missi (16), Kelly Olynyk (14) and Keion Brooks Jr. (10) — only Missi was in the rotation when the season started. All are rookies except Olynyk, who joined the team in a trade with the Toronto Raptors last month.
“We’re still in the gym, we’re still working, we’re still watching film,” Green said, “and I believe that’s the reason you’re seeing these guys be able to step on the floor and produce like they are.”
New Orleans’ CJ McCollum (right foot contusion) will be sidelined for the second game in a row on Friday.
–Field Level Media
