After initially being listed as questionable, Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry missed his third straight game on Sunday due to a lingering illness.
However, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the four-time NBA champion’s return is on the horizon as the team gears up for a challenging six-game road trip.
When Is Stephen Curry Expected To Rejoin the Warriors’ Lineup?
Before Sunday’s home clash against the shorthanded Indiana Pacers, Kerr revealed that Curry had two workouts scheduled to determine whether he would need more time to recover. The veteran coach then pinpointed Tuesday’s road matchup against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder as the 11-time All-Star’s target return date.
“He’s gonna get a workout in [tonight and tomorrow] and go on the trip. We’re hoping he’s able to play in OKC,” Kerr said. “Feeling better, but he hasn’t done much of anything, so we didn’t want to throw him out there tonight.”
Golden State ultimately pulled away for a 114-83 home victory over Indiana in Curry’s absence after dropping its previous two contests without him. The team’s 31-point victory margin marked its largest with Curry sidelined since he entered the league in the 2009-10 campaign.
That said, the milestone came with an asterisk. The Pacers were without most of their rotation, including star forward Pascal Siakam, who rested amid what is shaping up to be a lost season (1-9).
The Warriors should be in for a much tougher test on Tuesday against a dominant OKC unit that has lost just one game (10-1) and boasts the league’s No. 1 defensive rating (104.5). As such, they may need Curry’s playmaking and outside shooting to pose a legitimate threat.
Curry last suited up during Tuesday’s 118-107 home victory over the Phoenix Suns, acknowledging postgame that his then-worsening illness could cost him time. The two-time MVP then stayed home during Golden State’s ensuing two-game road trip against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets on Wednesday and Friday.
Despite picking up a much-needed victory against Indiana, the Warriors have lost four of their last six outings, dropping to eighth in the Western Conference (6-5) following their hot 4-1 start.
Five of the “Dubs'” six wins have come at home, with them boasting a perfect 5-0 record at Chase Center in contrast to their underwhelming 1-5 road record. Kerr noted during Sunday’s postgame interview that his squad is still coming into its own after 11 games as it awaits the imminent return of its leading scorer (26.8 points per game).
“Overall, we haven’t played really well. But I’m very confident in this team,” Kerr shared. “… I can picture the team. I can see what kind of team we’re going to be, but we don’t really have our identity yet.”
