Riding a four-game winning streak, the last three of which have come from second-half double-digit deficits, the good news keeps on coming for the Golden Warriors with an imminent return for superstar Stephen Curry.
The two-time MVP is expected to lineup for his team’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Curry will return from his left leg injury ‘barring a setback’. He’s been absent since sustaining the injury during the third-quarter of a win over the Dallas Mavericks on February 4.
Stephen Curry will be a welcome return to the Golden State Warriors as they seek to secure a top six seed in the Western Conference.
Earlier on Thursday, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr responded “I suppose” when asked if Sunday’s game against the Lakers could see Curry’s return. The 34-year-old has been upping his workload with scrimmages over the past few days, all the while being a vocal part of a joyous Golden State bench across the last four games.
It appears Curry will miss 11 games in total, although the Warriors have done as well as could be expected in his absence. Not only have they remained afloat, but their 6-4 record has catapulted them past the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks and into the fifth-seed in the Western Conference. Golden State will look to make it 7-4 without Curry and five-straight wins when they face the New Orleans Pelicans in the second night of a back-to-back on Friday.
Despite the team’s excellent recent form, Curry’s return comes at a significant time for the reigning champions. Sunday’s game against the Lakers starts a three-game road trip, with the Warriors still holding a woeful 7-23 road record which ranks 26th in the league.
Curry has missed 25 games already this season, having been sidelined with a shoulder injury in December and early January. Golden State are also hoping to regain arguably their second-best player, Andrew Wiggins, at some point in the near future, while defensive stud Gary Payton II could return before the conclusion of the regular season.