03/24/26 01:14:00
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03/24 01:13 CDT Stephen Curry will participate in play-in tourney for Warriors
if he's able, coach Steve Kerr says
Stephen Curry will participate in play-in tourney for Warriors if he's able,
coach Steve Kerr says
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) --- Stephen Curry will be available for the play-in tournament if
his ailing right knee allows.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr dismissed the notion that the Warriors would sit
their superstar without a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
Kerr said before Golden State's 137-131 overtime victory at Dallas on Monday
night that Curry's planned participation in practice a day earlier was put off
by the medical staff. A six-game road trip ends against the Mavericks, and the
Warriors will decide what's next for Curry after they get home.
"It's all just part of the rehab and all the different testing he does," Kerr
said. "Just pushed back a day or two."
The Warriors are in 10th place in the Western Conference, and if they finish
the season in that final spot in the play-in tournament, they would have to win
two road games to make the playoffs.
Curry hasn't played since Jan. 30 as he deals with patella-femoral pain
syndrome and bone bruising in the knee. Golden State is 23-16 with Curry and
11-22 without him this season.
The win over the Mavericks was just the second in the past 10 games for the
Warriors, who are 7-15 since Curry's latest injury. Golden State guard Moses
Moody exited late in OT with an apparently serious left knee injury.
"We're not chasing a play-in berth. We are squarely in the play-in no matter
what we do," Kerr said. "Bottom line, if Steph is healthy, he's going to play
because that's what we're here for. The chance to get into the playoffs is a
big deal for us, big deal for Steph."
At the same time, Kerr said if there's any risk of longer-term damage to the
knee, Curry won't play. The 38-year-old leads the Warriors in scoring at 27.2
points per game.
Kerr deflected the question of whether Curry was disappointed that his return
to practice was put off at least two more days.
Golden State had initially hoped he would return right after the All-Star
break, and Curry sat out the All-Star Game this year.
"It's been a long haul," the coach said. "He's dying to get out there, for
sure."
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This story was corrected to show the Warriors are 23-16 when Stephen Curry
plays, not 23-17.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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