Stephen Curry’s return cannot come soon for the Golden State Warriors.
And it looks like he is coming back when Warriors visits New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Curry is official day to day and will be listed as a doubtful Friday, but Kerr added, “I would be surprised if he didn’t play. He has trends upwards.”
Curry has missed the Golden State previously two matches-a loss of 124-115 at Atlanta on Saturday and a loss of 112-86 on Miami on Tuesday, since he received a pelvic crew in a victory of 117-114 against Toronto on March 20.
Warriors (41-31) never led in the match against heat, but Kerr became unpleasant because his team had gone 16-3 since Jimmy Butler in a trade with Miami in early February.
“I am very sure what we do for because we have had Jimmy that we are a five top -offensive team,” Kerr said. “I’m very sure we’ll have a good Friday.”
Golden State is in a narrow struggle to claim one of the six best places in the Western Conference.
“We’re in the fight and we have ten matches to go and I can’t wait,” Kerr said. “Friday is the biggest game of the year for us. We have lost two games in a row, very bad performances. It’s time and we have to bounce back and that is what good team does. I am convinced that is what we will do.”
Golden State experienced a setback Tuesday when the guard Gary Payton II tore a ligament in his left thumb during the loss to Miami. He will reportedly be on the page indefinitely.
Curry’s expected return is not the only reason for Warriors to feel confident in a return-back performance Friday. They have won all three matches against New Orleans this season-124-106 at home on October 29, 104-89 at home on 30 and 112-108 in New Orleans on November 22.
In addition, Pelicans (20-53) has lost nine of their last 12 matches, although they won their latest and topped the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 112-99 on Monday evening.
Zion Williamson has missed the last three games due to a rear contusion and his status for Friday in unclear.
Without its leading goal scores, New Orleans has had five, six and five double -digit scores per match. Against Sixers, they had 36 assists on 43 field goals, a game after they had 35 assists of 49 field goals in a loss of 136-130 at Detroit.
“We play quickly and we’re out in the open floor,” said coach Willie Green. “The key for us is to do it together, understand that it is not on a guy, but together let’s step on the floor, let’s move the ball, let’s set screens, let’s find open guys, shoot the ball when you are open, run it. It’s a beautiful basket to watch.”
Among the double-digit scores against Philadelphia-Karlo Matkovic (19), Antonio Reeves (17), Yves Missi (16), Kelly Olynyk (14) and Keion Brooks Jr. (10)-just Missi was in the rotation when the season began. Everyone is a beginner except Olynyk, who joined the team in a trade with Toronto Raptors last month.
“We are still in the gym, we are still working, we are still watching movies,” Green said, “and I think that’s why you see that these guys can step on the floor and produce as they are.”
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