Stephen Curry set for Sunday return after 27-game absence
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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is on track to rejoin the lineup Sunday against the Houston Rockets after sitting out 27 games with a lingering right-knee injury, according to league sources.
The two-time MVP completed a pair of full 5-on-5 scrimmages this week at the team’s San Francisco facility and met all medical benchmarks, the sources said. He is scheduled to practice with the Warriors on Saturday and is expected to receive formal clearance afterward.
Curry has not played since leaving a Jan. 30 loss to the Detroit Pistons because of knee pain and swelling. Multiple setbacks slowed his progress over the past two months, but the knee has responded well in recent weeks.
Golden State is 23-16 with Curry this season but just 13-25 without him, bringing the club’s overall record to 36-41. The Warriors sit 10th in the Western Conference and would need to win two play-in games in mid-April to reach the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, a spot that would likely set up a first-round meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Head coach Steve Kerr said last week that Curry would require a “runway” of games to rebuild rhythm and conditioning before postseason play. Including Sunday’s contest, the Warriors have five regular-season games remaining.
Curry’s return comes despite a season plagued by injuries, most notably the January ACL tear suffered by co-star Jimmy Butler. Team officials hope Curry’s presence can stabilize a turbulent stretch as the postseason approaches.
Source: ESPN.com
