Warriors Notes: Curry, Kerr, Schedule, Yurtseven, Richard
Stephen Curry has been out since Jan. 3o due to a knee injury but Warriors coach Steve Kerr remains confident his star guard will return before the end of the season, Kevin Borba of NBCSportsBayArea.com relays.
“Well, we expect him back,” Kerr said to NBC’s B0b Costas during the broadcast of the Warriors-Knicks contest on Sunday. “He’s trending in the right direction. It’s been a tricky injury. I think he’ll be back for sure. We just don’t know if it’s going to be a week or two or whatever. It’s a day-to-day process.”
Curry has been working out and will be re-evaluated on March 21. He’ll miss at least the next three games.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Despite an injury-marred season, Curry isn’t close to calling it quits, Nick Friedell of The Athletic relays. Curry made his comments during an interview with The Athletic’s Marcus Th0mpson II. “I think your body is the first point of information,” he said. “Just what it takes to get ready for a game is a lot different now than it was a decade ago. When I’m out there on the court right now, I still get lost in the fun. It’s still my happy place. All the work is worth it because I get to go out there and hoop at the highest level. The competition, the camaraderie, the chasing something that matters — that still gets me going. And I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.”
- Kerr has called for shortening the regular season numerous times and he was at it again this weekend, according to SNY’s Ian Begley (Twitter link). “I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue which means everybody takes a pay cut and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing,” he said. “So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them.” Kerr would like to see the schedule reduced by 10 games. “We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners,” Kerr said. “And I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely — I don’t know, ignoring some of the obvious (schedule-related injury) issues we’ve established.”
- Big man Omer Yurtseven says the NBA game is much more free flowing than in the European leagues due to the layout of the court and rules preventing defenders from hanging out in the paint. “In Europe, it’s much more chaotic,” Yurtseven said, per Eurohoops.net. “They will just shrink, be able to recover it back, because the three-point line is closer, because there is no three-second rule in defense. Those kinds of things affect everything.” Yurtseven, signed to a 10-day contract over the weekend, went scoreless in 13 minutes in a three-point loss to the Knicks but did pull down four rebounds.
- Kerr was mad at himself for lambasting rookie Will Richard during Sunday’s nationally-televised game. Kerr ripped Richard for committing a silly turnover in the second quarter. “I kind of regret losing my composure a little bit there,” Kerr said, per Monte Poole of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “It’s my job to keep the guys going, especially when we’re without so many players.”
Kings Notes: Achiuwa, Hayes, DeRozan, Tanking
Precious Achiuwa has revived his career in Sacramento this season and he’s hoping it’s the start of a long-term relationship with the franchise, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee writes in a subscriber-only piece. The 26-year-old big man had 20 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday as the surprisingly hot Kings defeated Utah for their fourth win in the past five games.
Achiuwa came to Sacramento on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract in November after Miami waived him before the start of the season. He has become a consistent presence in the starting lineup and is averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 61 games while shooting 53.5% from the field. Achiuwa will be a free agent again this summer and hopes to re-sign with the Kings.
“I love Sacramento,” he said. “The city has embraced me. The team has embraced me, the organization from the front office to my teammates to the coaching staff. I would love to be here.”
There’s more on the Kings:
- Killian Hayes has also benefitted from a move to Sacramento, as the former lottery pick agreed to a two-year contract on Sunday after completing a pair of 10-day deals. Hayes has quickly become a member of the rotation and appears to be a lineup fixture for the rest of the season, giving him some stability after being out of the NBA for most of the past two years. “This is what I’ve been working for all year to get back in the league,” Hayes said, per Anderson. “I’m just super grateful to be here.”
- There was some speculation that DeMar DeRozan might be moved before the trade deadline, but he wound up staying put like most of the Kings’ other veterans. He has been on a scoring tear lately, including a season-high 41 points on Sunday, and coach Doug Christie is happy to still have him to anchor the offense, Anderson adds. “He’s like a comfy blanket,” Christie said. “It doesn’t surprise me. You watch him go about his business, you watch him work and then you see him play, it’s the same thing.”
- Christie repeated his opposition to tanking during Sunday’s pre-game press conference, which is posted on NBC Sports Bay Area. Christie explained that losing intentionally is detrimental for young players on the team and pointed out that Dallas won the lottery last year after defeating the Kings in the play-in tournament.
Central Notes: Strus, Mobley, Giannis, Turner, Zubac
Cavaliers forward Max Strus didn’t show any ill effects from the broken foot that sidelined him for several months as he made his season debut on Sunday, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Strus’ shot looked as good as ever, as he went 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from beyond the arc while scoring 24 points, but he was upset that his return resulted in a loss to Dallas.
“I wasn’t good enough. Obviously we didn’t win, so you could say all the things you want to say,” Strus said. “I’m proud of myself, yes, but at the end of the day we didn’t win the game. It’s a bad loss for us and hopefully we get the next one.”
Strus suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot while training last summer and underwent surgery in late August. He was projected to return to action within three to four months, but the recovery process lasted a lot longer than expected.
Strus was one of the first players off the Cavs’ bench on Sunday, and he wound up playing 23 minutes. Coach Kenny Atkinson indicated that his playing time will increase over the final four weeks of the season.
“I think it’s an emotional day when you witness someone go through what he has during the offseason and then struggling to get back. It’s emotional, but it’s also exciting,” Atkinson said. “And then just to get an injection of energy and the competitor he is back in the locker room. It’s good timing and will be a boost for the team, not just today but going forward.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Evan Mobley admitted feeling some disappointment with his play this season after the Cavaliers won at Dallas on Friday, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com states in a subscriber-only story. “You always have high standards for yourself. I wanted to come out and dominate this year. Injuries. Different things. It doesn’t always go as planned,” Mobley said. “But you always keep going. The end goal is championship. We’re still in a good spot right now. Just got to keep stacking days. Wherever that takes you, it’s part of your journey so you can’t really get too hard on yourself. Just know things are going to turn eventually.”
- Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to return to the game after appearing to hyperextend his left knee on Sunday, but the Bucks‘ medical staff wouldn’t permit it, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Milwaukee held a double-digit lead over Indiana at the time, and it was decided that the risk was too great, although Antetokounmpo had to be talked out of it. “That was the time that you gotta look back and you just gotta listen. Just gotta listen,” he said. “And I listened. But I try not to make it bigger than what it is. I felt like I could finish the game. But the training staff thought it wasn’t smart for me to do so, so I just gotta trust them and go from there.”
- Myles Turner, who spent his entire career with the Pacers before signing with the Bucks last summer, assessed how Ivica Zubac will fit into the team’s system, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Turner said it’s tough to make a judgment so soon because Zubac has only played three games with Indiana and many of his teammates are injured. “You’ve kind of yet to see it,” Turner said. “With Tyrese (Haliburton), he needs space to operate and I was able to stretch the floor for him. It’s a little bit different with Zu because while he’s a good playmaker and passer, he’s more of a low-post kind of guy. I don’t know what that spacing looks like in (coach Rick Carlisle’s) system, but it’s kind of one of those things you wait to see.”
Stephen Curry Hasn’t Given Up On Playing This Season
It’s been more than six weeks since Stephen Curry has been able to play basketball, but he remains determined not to give up on this season, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. After the reeling Warriors lost Sunday night at New York, Curry talked to Friedell about the runner’s knee condition that he’s experiencing and addressed whether he has considered being shut down.
“That’s not who we are,” he said. “If we have stuff to play for, we play. So, I’m working to get back.”
Curry has been out of action since the injury forced him to leave a game against Detroit on January 30. He was recently able to resume individual workouts, but no date has been set for a potential return. The team announced on Wednesday that Curry’s absence would stretch for at least 10 more days.
Curry, who turned 38 over the weekend, acknowledged that many fans are advising him to take the safe approach and rest his knee in preparation for next season.
“I know we’re depleted, but the idea of my injury is just getting information by the day of, ‘Can I play safely? Be myself out there and not put myself in danger short term or long term?’ And then, we still have stuff to play for,” Curry said. “We’d love to see guys in a playoff series and take a swing. Hopefully, see this team that’s currently constructed healthy for a stretch to learn as much as we can and compete. That’s who we are.”
Curry accompanied the Warriors on their current road trip, which has five more stops over the next seven days, including tonight’s game at Washington. Even at 32-35, there’s little danger of falling out of the play-in race, which lessens the urgency to get Curry back on the court right away. However, there is a concern about falling behind Portland into 10th place, which would mean having to win two games on the road to advance to the playoffs.
Coach Steve Kerr addressed Curry’s condition in a session with reporters before Sunday’s game, saying he “continues to trend in the right direction,” but uncertainty remains over how the knee will respond to treatment. Kerr added that he misses having his star player available.
“Of course,” he said. “I’m the luckiest coach in the league to coach him and to watch him play. Just an incredible athlete. The grace, the ability, the charisma; he’s just one of one. This is the longest stretch I can remember being without him since — I think it was 2020, when he missed basically the whole season. So, we miss him. We miss watching him.”
NBA To Vote On Exploring Expansion Teams In Las Vegas, Seattle
The NBA will vote later this month on whether to explore adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).
The vote will take place at the Board of Governors meeting March 24-25, and if approved, the two new franchises are expected to begin playing during the 2028/29 season. Charania cites “momentum” for the league’s stakeholders to approve examining expansion, with bids expected to fall in the $7 billion to $10 billion range for each new team.
The upcoming vote is the first step in the expansion process, Charania adds, with a final vote to officially add the new teams potentially taking place later this year. Both rounds will require approval from at least 23 of the 30 governors.
In an appearance this morning on ESPN’s Get Up (Twitter video link), Charania states that there’s a “growing majority of owners” who are in favor of expanding.
Seattle has been viewed as a possible expansion market ever since the SuperSonics were moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Seattle was part of the NBA for more than four decades and has a large group of loyal fans who still identify with the team.
The city already has a facility in place in Climate Pledge Arena, which was formerly known as Key Arena and serves as home to the NHL’s Kraken. It recently underwent a $1.15 billion renovation and can hold 18,300 fans for basketball.
Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but it has formed a strong partnership with the league by hosting Summer League games every July, as well as the semifinals and finals of the NBA Cup. T-Mobile Arena is the home of the NHL’s Golden Knights and hosts basketball games as well with a capacity of 18,000 people.
Adding two new teams in the Pacific time zone will likely force a realignment to balance out the conferences. The Timberwolves and Grizzlies are viewed as the most likely teams to move from the West to the East, Charania writes in a full story.
Expansion has been an on-and-off issue for the NBA over the past few years, with commissioner Adam Silver sometimes making encouraging remarks, but also stating that other priorities had to be addressed first. He brought up the topic at his All-Star Weekend press conference, indicating that the league didn’t have a set number of teams in mind and that would be decided after exploring the marketplace.
There was speculation that the NBA’s focus on developing a new professional league in Europe might delay the expansion process, but it now appears to be on the front burner as the Board of Governors prepares to gather. The NBA continues to move forward on the European project, and final bids for prospective teams are due by the end of March, sources tell Charania.
Al Horford, Seth Curry To Be Reevaluated In One Week
Warriors big man Al Horford and guard Seth Curry will be reevaluated in a week after undergoing MRIs on their respective injuries, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Horford was diagnosed with a calf strain after leaving Friday’s game against Minnesota in the first quarter with what was initially referred to as right calf tightness. Kerr said after the final whistle that he expected Horford to miss multiple games.
Curry exited the Wolves game early as well, heading to the locker room in the second quarter with what is now being called a left adductor strain.
Horford has made 43 appearances for the Warriors, who are 32-35 after dropping Sunday’s matchup with the Knicks. He has averaged 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game this season. Curry has struggled to stay on the floor at all, missing a significant chunk of the season due to sciatica and playing just four times since signing with the club at the start of December.
Golden State was also without Draymond Green (back injury management), Kristaps Porzingis (illness management), De’Anthony Melton (knee injury management), and Stephen Curry (knee) on Sunday.
Kings’ Drew Eubanks To Undergo Thumb Surgery
Kings center Drew Eubanks has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left thumb and will undergo surgery to repair it, the team announced today, per Locked On Kings’ James Ham (Twitter link).
Eubanks has appeared in 42 games for Sacramento this season, including 11 starts. He is averaging 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 13.1 minutes per contest.
Eubanks sustained the injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets, according to the team press release. He played just under 15 minutes in that game, contributing four points, six rebounds, and two assists.
The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18. While the Kings have yet to provide a formal timeline for his recovery, it seems unlikely that Eubanks will play again in 2025/26, with just four weeks left in the regular season. For what it’s worth, Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe received a similar diagnosis this week and was ruled out for the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Injures Knee, Will Not Seek Imaging
Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared to hyperextend his knee during the Bucks‘ win over the Pacers on Sunday, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Late in the third quarter of the 134-123 victory, Antetokounmpo came down awkwardly on a dunk following a spin move. He stayed in the game for a little over a minute before exiting for the rest of the night.
Antetokounmpo attempted to warm up for a possible return, riding the stationary bike and doing knee exercises, according to Alex Molina of Eurohoops, but ultimately remained out for the remainder of the contest.
Following the game, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters that while he believed the injury occurred on the aforementioned play, the team had yet to issue an official diagnosis, and he wasn’t sure if his star forward would undergo an MRI on the injury.
“My guess is he hyperextended his knee, but I’m guessing,” Rivers said, per ESPN.
Antetokounmpo later said that he isn’t planning on undergoing imaging, according to Nehm (Twitter link).
“I’m just going to go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow, try to lift some weights,” the two-time MVP said. “And if I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there. But as of right now, I’m not really bothered by it.”
Antetokounmpo has only played in 36 of the Bucks’ 67 games so far this season, having battled knee, groin, and repeated calf ailments. Entering Sunday’s matchup with Indiana, he had registered averages of 27.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per night.
Santi Aldama Undergoing Arthroscopic Procedure On Knee, Out Indefinitely
Santi Aldama is undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, the Grizzlies announced today (Twitter link). As part of the procedure, he’ll receive an orthobiologic injection meant to reduce discomfort in the trochlear compartment of his knee, according to the team.
Aldama hasn’t played since February 4 due to ongoing knee pain. The veteran power forward has averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game in 43 appearances for Memphis this season after signing a three-year, $52.5MM contract in restricted free agency last summer. He has shot 47.9% from the floor and 35.0% from beyond the three-point line, both above his career rates.
According to the Grizzlies’ press release, Aldama is expected to make a full recovery. A more specific timeline will be provided after he undergoes the procedure.
Aldama joins a long list of injured Grizzlies, as Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Walter Clayton, Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are all listed as out for Monday’s game.
No Timetable For Isaiah Stewart’s Calf Strain
Isaiah Stewart is out indefinitely for the Pistons due to a left calf strain, per Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
“It’s something he’s been dealing with. It just had been getting worse,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He gutted it out last game and I think you could see he was favoring it late… it’s something we’re going to take time with.”
Stewart has been an important part of Detroit’s rotation this season. He has averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 23.1 minutes per game, putting together a case for All-Defensive recognition. However, this calf injury will scuttle his chances of reaching the 65-game minimum to qualify for end-of-season awards.
The 6’8″ center had played seven games since returning from a seven-game suspension due to a fight against the Hornets on February 9.
Stewart’s absence will likely result in an increased rotation role for reserve center Paul Reed. Reed has been productive in limited minutes this season and has stepped up when called upon, averaging 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in his eight games as a starter.