Curry to Miss Post-Break Opener; Porzingis Expected to Suit Up for Warriors
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SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry will not play Thursday night when the Golden State Warriors resume their season against the Boston Celtics, and the club does not yet have a timetable for the All-Star guard’s return, head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday.
Curry, 37, continues to experience pain and swelling in his right knee — labeled “runner’s knee” by team trainers — that sidelined him for the final five games before the All-Star break. Kerr said the four-time NBA champion attempted to test the knee in a planned scrimmage but decided it “wasn’t where he needed it to be.”
The team may order another MRI after Curry consults with performance chief Rick Celebrini, who is currently in Milan watching his son compete for Canada’s Olympic hockey team.
“We’ve got to be certain, and he’s got to be certain,” Kerr told reporters. “It is a little nebulous, but that’s the nature of the injury.”
Curry previously told ESPN on Feb. 5 that the joint was “trending in the right direction,” but he stressed the need to eliminate inflammation completely before returning to game action.
Porzingis set for Warriors debut
While Curry remains out, newly acquired center Kristaps Porzingis is on track to make his Warriors debut against his former team. Officially listed as questionable, the 7-foot-3 Latvian said he is “ready to go” after completing a full scrimmage Wednesday.
Golden State landed Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks at the Feb. 6 trade deadline in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta. Limited to 17 games this season because of illness and Achilles tendinitis, Porzingis spent the All-Star break working with the Warriors’ training staff.
Kerr plans to use the 30-year-old in “short bursts” off the bench, likely alongside veteran forward Al Horford, who also played with Porzingis in Boston. The coaching staff dedicated recent practices to spacing around Porzingis’ post-ups.
“I love the simplicity of the offense,” Porzingis said. “Playing next to Draymond [Green] felt great. I can see how important he is to this group.”
Facing the Celtics so soon after the trade, Porzingis acknowledged the odd timing. “Weird,” he said. “Who would believe this? But that’s how it works.”
Golden State enters Thursday at 29-26, eighth in the Western Conference.
Source: ESPN
