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Warriors Injury Notes: Curry, Durant, Livingston

April 20th, 2018 at 2:18pm CST by Luke Adams

2:18pm: The Warriors have issued an update on Curry after today’s evaluation, announcing that he’s making progress and will begin participating in “modified” team practices on Saturday. Curry will be re-evaluated again in one week, according to the team.

8:52am: Stephen Curry, recovering from a knee injury, is still not close to returning to action, multiple sources tell Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. According to Thompson, Curry will be evaluated again on Friday, but he isn’t believed to be in the final stages of his rehab process.

The Warriors hold a 3-0 lead on the Spurs in their first-round series, so the team isn’t clamoring to get Curry back to face San Antonio. Still, the Dubs would certainly like to have the two-time MVP back to start the second round, and that’s no lock.

As Thompson notes, the Western Conference semifinals could begin as early as April 28 if the Warriors and Pelicans finish off their first-round opponents quickly — both teams are currently up 3-0. Per Thompson, Curry’s MCL injury may need a full six weeks to heal, which would put him on track to return around May 4. Depending on what Golden State’s second-round schedule looks like, that could result in a return for Game 3 of the Western semis.

Meanwhile, a pair of other key Warriors suffered ankle injuries during Thursday’s win in San Antonio, but those injuries – to Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston – aren’t believed to be serious. Durant told ESPN’s Chris Haynes after Game 3 that his ankle just did a “quick roll” rather than a full turn, and insisted he’s “fine.”

As for Livingston, head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that injury looks slightly worse than Durant’s, but he didn’t sound overly concerned about the veteran point guard.

“Both sprained ankles,” Kerr said. “But I think they’ll be all right.”

Injury Updates: Curry, Iguodala, Embiid, Thunder

April 14th, 2018 at 8:12pm CST by Arthur Hill

Stephen Curry has shown “steady functional progress” on his MCL sprain and remains on target for a second-round return, according to Sam Amick of USA Today.

The Warriors provided a medical update on Curry before today’s playoff opener, including the news that he “will intensify his on-court rehabilitation in the coming days.” The team’s medical staff examined Curry yesterday and plans a re-evaluation in one week. His rehab program will consist of “more running and lateral movement.”

“When he’s ready, he’s ready,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “But he’s making progress, which is a good sign.”

Curry hasn’t played since suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain March 23. He had missed the previous six games with a right ankle injury.

“Every day has been something good, advancing the rehab process,” Curry said. “I’m looking forward to hopefully making more progress as we look towards the playoffs. It’s been an interesting two weeks so far. Just trying to get some rhythm, some strength back, some flexibility, range of motion, all that type of stuff.”

There’s more injury news involving playoff teams:

Warriors forward Andre Iguodala appears to be OK after taking a hard hit to his leg in the first half of today’s game, tweets Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. He was diagnosed with just a charley horse, but Kerr said it’s fortunate that Iguodala wasn’t needed late in the game.
Joel Embiid is optimistic about his chances to return for Game 2 or 3 of the Sixers‘ series with Miami, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Embiid underwent facial surgery March 31 after breaking an orbital bone in an on-court collision. He has to prove he can handle contact before being medically cleared to play, but he took steps in that direction this week (Twitter link). “If it was my decision I would play, but I can’t get back out on the court if I don’t have the OK from them,” Embiid said. “But everything has been going well.” He spent about 30 minutes shooting before tonight’s game wearing a black protective mask that the league hasn’t approved for game use (Twitter link).
The status of two injured Thunder players remains in question heading into Sunday’s playoff opener, according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman. Alex Abrines, who has been in concussion protocol since Monday, participated in practice today but didn’t do any drills that involved contact. Corey Brewer, who suffered a right knee sprain Wednesday, went through some contact drills after missing Thursday’s practice. “We’ll see how they responded from it” coach Billy Donovan said. “They both seemed fine with what they were doing. Whether or not they’ll be available tomorrow, we’ll probably find that out in the morning.”

Stephen Curry Targeting Second-Round Return

April 13th, 2018 at 12:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined with an MCL injury, will look to get back on the court sometime during the Western Conference Semifinals, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).

Curry, who sprained his left MCL sprain in March, was initially ruled out at least three weeks, and his three-week re-evaluation will occur this Saturday, as Charania observes. While the two-time MVP had wanted to return for the Warriors’ first-round series, it sounds like he’ll remain on the shelf for at least a couple more weeks.

That timeline matches up with comments made by head coach Steve Kerr in the wake of Curry’s initial diagnosis. Kerr told reporters at the time that there was “no way” Curry would play in the first round, while the star guard responded to those comments by saying he hoped to prove his coach wrong.

Assuming Curry isn’t able to play until the second round, the Warriors will have to get by the Spurs without him in round one. For their part, the Spurs appear likely to take the court without their own star — no recent updates have been provided on Kawhi Leonard, who last played three months ago today, on January 13.

Injury Updates: Thomas, Ball, Irving, Curry

April 7th, 2018 at 9:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

Isaiah Thomas is declaring his right hip to be “fixed” after season-ending surgery, relays Bill Oram of The Orange County Register. Thomas played just 17 games for the Lakers before opting for the March 28 procedure to address lingering problems in the hip. He talked to reporters at Friday’s game and proclaimed his time with in L.A. to be successful.

“I came in here with … nothing on my agenda and nothing in my plans,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to play basketball and get that joy back and being on the Lakers brought that joy back from having a tough couple of months in Cleveland.”

Thomas added that the pain in his hip never went away, even as he sat out for seven months in an attempt to rehab the joint. He expressed confidence that the situation won’t affect his offers in free agency, believing that teams will understand he was trying to play through an injury.

There’s plenty of news tonight on the injury front:

The season may not be over for rookie guard Lonzo Ball, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Ball, who has missed the past five games with a left knee contusion, participated in some drills today and the Lakers have upgraded him to questionable for Sunday’s contest. Teammate Kyle Kuzma is also questionable after suffering a mild sprain to his left ankle Friday night.
The Celtics expect Kyrie Irving to be ready for training camp after having knee surgery today, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN. Irving had two screws removed from his left knee and has a projected recovery time of four to five months. “The surgery went exactly as planned, and we expect Kyrie to be fully healthy for training camp in the fall,” president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a prepared statement.
Celtics center Daniel Theis, who had season-ending surgery on his left knee, said he hopes to be able to get off his crutches in two to three weeks, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston.
Celtics forward Guerschon Yabusele will have an MRI on his knee after sitting out practice today, according to Tom Westerholm of MassLive. “They don’t think it’s anything,” coach Brad Stevens said of team doctors, “but they’re going to get some imaging just to make sure.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr declined to offer an update on Stephen Curry before tonight’s game, tweets Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. The star guard will miss at least the first round of the playoffs with an MCL sprain. “There’s nothing there,” Kerr said. “[Check back] next week.”
The Nuggets are preparing to finish the season without guard Gary Harris, who is recovering from a knee injury, relays Gina Mizell of The Denver Post (Twitter link). “Right now, I’m not expecting Gary Harris back [in the regular season],” coach Michael Malone said before today’s game. “We have to continue to find ways to win games and compete at a high level with the players that are available, and Gary’s not on that list right now.”
The Bucks had hoped that Malcolm Brogdon could play tonight, but decided to hold him out for another game, writes Matt Velazquez of The Journal Sentinel. Brogdon hasn’t been available since since partially tearing his left quadriceps tendon more than two months ago. “Honestly there hasn’t been many setbacks,” Brogdon said. “I’ve had maybe two or three sore days in the whole rehab process and that’s not many at all. Very few setbacks. I’ve made progress, progress, taken big steps almost every day so it’s been a very smooth rehab so far.”

And-Ones: Andersen, Euroleague, Curry, Coaches

March 26th, 2018 at 11:02am CST by Luke Adams

It wasn’t long ago that Chris Andersen was suiting up for the NBA’s defending champions — he appeared in his last NBA game in December 2016 for the Cavaliers. Less than a year and a half later, however, having not played for an NBA team this season, Andersen is eyeing a move to the BIG3.

The professional three-on-three league, entering its second season, recently announced (via Twitter) that Andersen has joined the 2018 draft pool. The 15-year NBA veteran known as Birdman appeared in nearly 700 total regular season games for Denver, Miami, New Orleans, Memphis, and Cleveland, averaging 5.4 PPG and 5.0 RPG.

While he hasn’t officially announced his retirement as an NBA player, Andersen’s move to the BIG3 may signal that one last NBA run isn’t in the cards for the veteran big man.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

There’s no question that the NBA is the world’s best basketball league, but for many former NBA players, life in the Euroleague isn’t so bad. Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated spoke to a handful of those veterans who are playing international ball to see why they’ve decided to continue their respective careers overseas. “I have had more than a couple opportunities to go back,” said Real Madrid big man Anthony Randolph. “For me personally, I have stated to the teams that I talk to that I would want to have a significant role when I come back and I wanted to play. … I don’t want to go back to the NBA to sit on the bench and kind of waste a year or two of my career. I enjoy playing. I enjoy competing against guys. The competition has gotten so much better over here that I’m challenged every night playing overseas. I’m 100% at peace if I don’t go back to the NBA.”
While returning from his knee injury is Stephen Curry‘s top priority at the moment, the Warriors star is “definitely” still interested in getting involved in an ownership group for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Connor Letourneau of SFGate.com writes.
Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune examines how stress is taking a toll on head coaches around the NBA, including Steve Clifford of the Hornets and Tyronn Lue of the Cavaliers.
Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press explores the fine line between tanking and “player development” for some of the NBA’s worst teams.

Kerr: Stephen Curry To Miss First Round Of Playoffs

March 25th, 2018 at 7:57pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Warriors will be without two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry for the first round of the playoffs, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including The Athletic’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link).

“There’s no way he’s playing in the first round, there’s no way,” Kerr said. “He’s being reevaluated in three weeks. We have to be ready to play without him and then see how he’s coming along. Good thing is we’ve been through this, we went through it last year with [Kevin Durant].”

Curry returned to the court on Friday after he missed six games with an ankle injury. However, in the third quarter, teammate JaVale McGee landed on Curry’s left leg after a block attempt, forcing him to exit the game. He was initially diagnosed with a left MCL sprain and an MRI revealed a grade 2 left MCL sprain. The prognosis was for Curry to be reevaluated in three weeks.

Curry spoke to reporters after Kerr and said he hopes to be back in time for the first round despite Kerr’s prognosis (Twitter link).

“Hopefully I prove what coach said wrong and put myself in position to get back as soon as possible,” Curry said.

In 51 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG.

Warriors Notes: Cook, Curry, Green, Durant

March 25th, 2018 at 8:58am CST by Arthur Hill

In the wake of Stephen Curry‘s latest injury, the Warriors need to add two-way player Quinn Cook to their roster before the postseason, writes Chris Haynes of ESPN. The second-year point guard has made the most of his time with Golden State, averaging 6.9 points in 23 games. He has been extremely productive lately, reaching double figures in his last five contests, including a career high of 28 points.

With the G League regular season now over, Cook’s 45-day NBA limit is no longer a concern. However, he cannot be on the playoff roster unless the Warriors convert his contract to a full NBA deal by April 10, the day before the season ends. Golden State doesn’t have an available roster spot, so someone would have to be waived. Sources tell Haynes that the team hasn’t discussed such a move with Cook’s representatives.

“I want to secure a guaranteed deal,” he said. “I know I’m an NBA player, and I want to continuing proving that.”

There’s more Warriors news this morning:

In an interview with HoopsHype, Cook said he is more focused on a strong finish to the regular season than the roster decision. “Obviously if it were to happen, I’d be grateful, I’d be thankful,” Cook said of being activated for the postseason. “But if it doesn’t, I’ll still be with the team during the playoffs and practicing with the guys and still learning. It’s not something that I’ve been thinking about. Whatever happens happens, and I’ll be grateful either way.”
After being injured Friday, Curry spent time after the game talking to Cook about his new role with the team, according to Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. It’s a continuation of the mentoring role Curry has adopted since Cook’s first call-up to the Warriors in December. “He’d literally sit down with me before every game and at halftime and tell me what he would see,” Cook said. “We developed a great friendship and mentorship along the season.”
Curry’s MRI results dominated the headlines Saturday, but the Warriors have much better news regarding their other injured stars, relays Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Draymond Green has recovered from a pelvic contusion that he suffered Monday and should play in today’s game, while Kevin Durant is expected back from a rib cartilage fracture by the middle of the week. Klay Thompson will be out a little longer with a fractured right thumb, but Slater expects them to have about five games together before the season ends.

Stephen Curry Suffers MCL Sprain; Out Three Weeks

March 24th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by marksuleymanov

2:53pm: Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Curry suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Anthony Slater of The Athletic adds that a Grade 2 sprain is worse than the injury Curry suffered in the 2016 playoffs, forcing him to miss 15 days, and that a Grade 2 sprain generally causes a player to miss 4-6 weeks.

8:33am: Warriors point guard Stephen Curry suffered a left MCL sprain in Friday’s win over the Hawks and he is set to undergo an MRI later today, per the team’s public relations department (Twitter link).

The two-time Most Valuable Player scored 29 points and grabbed 7 boards in 25 minutes on Friday. Curry suffered the MCL injury late in the third quarter when teammate JaVale McGee — attempting a block — fell onto Curry’s left knee. He left the game and never returned.

Curry had missed Golden State’s previous six games due to a right ankle injury. The Warriors’ second-leading scorer had a minor limp but was in good spirits inside the team’s locker room after the game, tweets ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

“Well, at least it’s not my ankle,” Curry said.

In 51 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG.

The Warriors have been conservative with their star players as injuries mounted with Kevin Durant (rib fracture), Draymond Green (pelvic contusion) and Klay Thompson (thumb fracture) sidelined.

Depending on the results of today’s MRI, it could put the Warriors in a precarious position with the playoffs three weeks away. Golden State is four games back of the Rockets for the top seed in the Western Conference with 10 games left. Chasing Houston for first place with a depleted roster is less of a concern than having the five-time All-Star healthy for the postseason.

“We’ll see what the MRI says tomorrow,” head coach Steve Kerr said, per ESPN. “There’s not a lot we can do or predict. Kind of a strange, cruel twist of fate, you know. He rehabs his ankle for the last couple of weeks, gets that strong, and then the knee goes. So we’ll see what happens. Keep our fingers crossed.”

Pacific Notes: Curry, Warriors, Cook, Harrell

March 21st, 2018 at 8:04pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Warriors have hit a rough patch with injuries as their four All-Stars – Stephen Curry (ankle), Klay Thompson (thumb), Kevin Durant (rib), and even Draymond Green (midsection) – have all been sidelined recently. From the trio of Curry, Durant, and Thompson, Curry is closest to returning, ESPN’s Chris Haynes writes.

“I think Steph is closer to playing than KD and Klay,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “…We’re going to be cautious with all of them. … This is not like a timetable of two to three days. It’s just more of a feel thing.”

Golden State owns second place in the Western Conference, four games behind the Rockets. With a postseason spot wrapped up, the Warriors by all indications will focus on getting their core players healthy rather than push for the first seed.

Check out more notes from the Pacific Division below:

Battling injuries, the Warriors have relied on their bench to shoulder the load. Undrafted point guard Quinn Cook, who has bounced around the league the last few seasons, has been a pleasant surprise for Golden State. In his last three games, Cook has finished with 20+ points. Cook hopes to remain with the team long-term and the interest is mutual, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. “I would love to be with this team for the next 10 years of my career,” Cook said.
Cook has also received help from Curry via a text message at halftime during the Warriors‘ matchup against the Suns last Saturday, Melissa Rohlin of The Mercury News relays. Cook struggled in the first half, but a text from the two-time MVP helped him finish with a career-high 28 points.“I don’t care if you go zero-for-25, that 26th shot you better not hesitate,” Curry said in the text, per Cook.
Clippers forward Montrezl Harrel has been a steady presence for the team this season, averaging a career-high 10.4 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 64 games. Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype writes that Harrell has been one of the most efficient scorers in the entire NBA in the 16.2 minutes per game he averages. Harrell is set to hit restricted free agency this summer.

Stephen Curry Targeting Friday Return

March 20th, 2018 at 7:46pm CST by Luke Adams

7:46pm: Curry’s re-evaluation by team medical staff indicated that his ankle is making “good progress.” As a result, Curry has been cleared to practice as a full participant beginning tomorrow, per an official statement from the team.

9:43am: Warriors star Stephen Curry is aiming to return from his latest ankle injury this Friday vs. Atlanta, according to Chris Haynes and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Golden State has the next three nights off, so Friday is the earliest that Curry could get back on the court.

Curry, who has missed the Warriors’ last six games after tweaking his right ankle, will have that ankle re-evaluated on Tuesday. If the team is satisfied with that assessment and Curry avoids setbacks this week, he should be able to face the Hawks on Friday.

The defending champions have been hit hard by the injury bug as of late, with all four of their All-Stars battling various ailments. Klay Thompson (hand) and Kevin Durant (ribs) are each expected to miss a little more time, sources tell Haynes and Shelburne. Meanwhile, Draymond Green left Monday’s loss to the Spurs with a pelvic contusion, but said after the game that the injury is “not serious,” per Haynes.

Because Curry is due back soon and Green’s injury sounds minor, the Warriors won’t be eligible to apply for a hardship exception — that provision allows a team to add a 16th player to its 15-man roster when it has at least four players who have missed three straight games and are expected to remain sidelined for another two weeks apiece.

The Warriors are currently 3.5 games back of the Rockets for the No. 1 seed in the West, but have an 8.5-game cushion over Portland for the No. 2 spot. With their seed all but locked in, the Dubs are expected to focus on simply getting everyone healthy for the start of the postseason, rather than rushing players back for the last three weeks of the regular season.