© Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry continues to work his way back from a grade two MCL sprain, with the onset of the Warriors’ first-round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs starting Saturday. Golden State will look to turn around a poor final stretch of the regular season without the two-time NBA MVP available in the near future.
Two days after Curry suffered his left knee injury March 23, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Curry wouldn’t play in the first round. On his weekly KNBR appearance Thursday evening, Kerr reiterated that Curry still has a long way to go.
“He’s not practicing yet or anything,” Kerr said. “I think three weeks (from his injury) is Saturday. I think that’s when we said the doctors would reevaluate him. He isn’t anywhere close to playing, I can say that.”
Curry has missed the past 10 games. An ankle injury had sidelined him for six games prior prior to his last return.
The Warriors have struggled without Curry, going 4-6 in the past 10 contests. The most positive takeaway— and most remarkable storyline— has been backup point guard Quinn Cook’s ascent. In Golden State’s final 14 regular season games, Cook averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and shot 50.7 percent from three-point range, earning him a multi-year extension.
Curry’s encouragement was one of the driving factors in Cook’s confidence, according to Kerr.
“(Curry) has already helped (Cook) over the last month,” Kerr said. “I thought Steph was the guy who really talked Quinn through it. The first few games, Quinn was sort of tentative, and then Steph helped him realize, we want you to shoot. We want you to shoot 20 times. I thought one of the reasons Quinn played so well is having Steph in his ear.”
Curry’s recovery timetable was originally set at four-to-six weeks. According to that, he still has another week or two before he sees the floor, barring any setbacks, which may sideline him for the entire first round.
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