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Golden State Warriors: Could Curry possibly play in Game 1 vs. Pelicans?

By Angelo Mendoza

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 24: the Golden State Warriors bench reacts during Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs on April 24, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 24: the Golden State Warriors bench reacts during Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs on April 24, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Stephen Curry could possibly take the court for the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their second round matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.

After missing 16 of the last 17 games of the regular season and the first five games of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, a former back-to-back MVP may finally return to the court for the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

That’s right: Stephen Curry could possibly play on Saturday in the team’s first game against the New Orleans Pelicans, kicking off the second round of the postseason.

Fresh off a 99-91 win over the San Antonio Spurs to end the previous round, the Warriors will attempt to hold it down for Oakland at Oracle Arena against the likes of The Brow. Considering the Pelicans’ dominant first round sweep against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, this series is looking to be quite the wake-up call for the Dubs, who faltered a bit after Game 3.

After Saturday, the Warriors will play Game 2 in Oakland on Tuesday, which will precede Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 next Sunday in New Orleans.

Game Details

Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Tip-Off: Saturday, April 27, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. PDT

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: TNT

Radio: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network

Projected Starting Lineups

New Orleans Pelicans

PG: Rajon Rondo

SG: Jrue Holiday

SF: E’Twaun Moore

PF: Nikola Mirotic

C: Anthony Davis

Head Coach: Alvin Gentry

Golden State Warriors

PG: Andre Iguodala

SG: Klay Thompson

SF: Kevin Durant

PF: Draymond Green

C: JaVale McGee

Head Coach: Steve Kerr

Injury Report

GSW: Stephen Curry (left MCL sprain) is considered questionable. Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) is listed out.

NOP: Alexis Ajinca (right knee injury), DeMarcus Cousins (left achilles rupture) and Frank Jackson (right foot fracture) are out.

Next: Grading each Warriors player in the first round

Keys to the Game

First off, I would love to see the Warriors come right out of the gates and attempt to catch the Pelicans off guard. If the Dubs can do the heavy lifting early, they’ll have a much easier time later in the game.

Secondly, Golden State obviously has to find a way to limit Anthony Davis and force the rest of the team to beat you. While Holiday, Rondo and Mirotic are also offensive threats, I just can’t see the Warriors achieving a convincing win if Davis develops a rhythm early.

Which brings me to my last point: I want to see the Dubs dominate this game and set the tone for the rest of the series. Prove to the Pelicans right off the bat that while they may have matched up well against the Blazers, Golden State is on a much higher level entirely.

Lose the game, and they give the Pelicans a slight mental edge going back to Louisiana.

(All game information provided via Warriors PR)

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