Curry returns, to come off bench in Warriors’ playoff opener

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry will play however not begin for Golden State in Sport 1 of the playoffs towards the Denver Nuggets on Saturday evening.

“It was fairly clear. He felt good,“ coach Steve Kerr mentioned earlier than the sport. ”The one query was how he would really feel the subsequent day and he felt good yesterday. Yesterday was a fairly gentle day and we felt actually good about yesterday as we talked about it and right this moment he’s good to go.”

Jordan Poole was within the beginning lineup for his playoff debut.

Curry is again for the Warriors precisely one month after he sprained a ligament in his left foot towards Boston. The 2-time MVP scrimmaged Thursday — taking part in three six-minute stretches — in a key step to him being cleared for the opener within the best-of-seven sequence.

Curry mentioned after Thursday’s apply the foot remains to be tender 4 weeks later and he additionally handled a bone bruise that had him in a strolling boot for almost three weeks. He sprinted out of the tunnel for pregame warmups in his regular vogue, that includes a excessive leap bringing each legs into the air.

The Nuggets wish to make Curry work on each ends of the ground, Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned.

“It’s no shock that he’s taking part in. We’ve ready all week as if he would play,” Malone mentioned. “… We’ve to discover a method to make Steph Curry play on each ends of the ground as a result of if he’s simply allowed to play offense, he’s a three-time world champion, two-time MVP. We’ve all seen what he’s able to.”

The 34-year-old Curry was injured March 16 at house towards the Celtics and Golden State went 6-6 with out him, although the Warriors discovered their rhythm and gained the ultimate 5 regular-season video games.

Curry is assured he will help the Warriors win even when he’s not fairly at full energy. His rehab mantra has been: “optimistic and affected person.” His conditioning provides him the belief that he gained’t be a step gradual or winded after a couple of minutes.

“All the pieces’s simply been optimistic when it comes to getting again on the market and understanding I’ll be able to play each time that point is, I’m hoping it’s Saturday,“ he mentioned main as much as the sport.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry warms up earlier than Sport 1 of the workforce’s NBA basketball first-round playoff sequence towards the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco, Saturday, April 16, 2022.

Towards Boston, Curry was injured with 4:19 remaining within the second quarter whereas scrambling for a unfastened ball. Marcus Good made a diving lunge on the play and landed on his leg. Curry grimaced in ache and bought up however hobbled alongside earlier than exiting on the subsequent useless ball moments later. Kerr known as it a “harmful” play.

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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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