Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry will be sidelined for at least two more games due to his troublesome knee. League sources confirmed that this will extend his absence to a minimum of 25 consecutive games.
Curry has been increasing his on-court work in recent weeks. However, he was unable to get clearance for a 5-on-5 scrimmage recently, a setback from the team’s initial hopes.
Curry’s Determination and Team Concerns
Curry still hopes to return late in the regular season. He will spend the next week trying to ramp up his court work and get the go-ahead to scrimmage from Rick Celebrini, the franchise’s lead medical decision-maker.
Celebrini has been cautious regarding Curry’s right knee.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that time is running out for Curry to return. He indicated that Curry needs to be cleared soon or he will inevitably be shut down for the season.
“We’re not bringing him back [only] for the play-in game,” Kerr said. “He’d need to play some games. We need to give him a runway if this is going to work. And we are running out of games. That’s fair to say.”
Warriors Struggle Without Curry
The Warriors’ performance has suffered significantly in Curry’s absence. They have gone 8-15 and fallen to 35-38 overall.
This record places them firmly in the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
The Warriors have already lost starting wings Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody to season-ending knee injuries. There have been internal discussions about whether bringing Curry back is worth it during what feels like a doomed season.
Curry’s Knee Issues Persist
Curry remains motivated to return to the court despite multiple setbacks since he initially left the lineup on Jan. 30 due to “runner’s knee”. MRIs have ruled out structural damage, but pain and swelling have persisted.
Curry will miss the game against the Washington Wizards and the road game against the Denver Nuggets. The Warriors play the San Antonio Spurs next Wednesday.
The regular season ends on April 12. The Warriors are locked into the play-in bracket.