The Golden State Warriors could stand to get a couple of their All-Star players back into the mix before the 2017-18 regular season wraps up. Returning to the court seems to be a near-lock at this point for one of their former Kia MVP winners.
Guard Stephen Curry, who has been out since March 8 with a sprained ankle, practiced for a second straight day with the team on Thursday. According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, Curry should suit up tonight against the Atlanta Hawks (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass):
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is on track to return for Friday night’s game against Atlanta.
Curry, who has missed the past six games with a tweaked right ankle, was cleared to return to practice after getting his ankle re-evaluated Tuesday. He has participated fully in Golden State’s past two practices with no issues.
Barring a setback in shoot-around or pregame warmups Friday, Curry will return to the starting lineup against the Hawks. Head coach Steve Kerr has yet to decide whether he’ll put Curry on a minutes restriction.
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While Curry is seemingly set to return, Kevin Durant (fractured rib cartilage), Klay Thompson (fractured right thumb) and Draymond Green (pelvic contusion) are out tonight. Thompson and Durant participated in non-contact work yesterday, Letourneau reports, but they are probably at least a week away from returning.
Curry has been out since March 8, which is when he sprained his right ankle against the San Antonio Spurs. He was cleared by the team to practice on Tuesday and did exactly that on Wednesday.
Golden State trails the Houston Rockets by 4 1/2 games for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. The Warriors are a sparkling 40-10 with Curry this season, and would likely need him if they have any hope of catching the Rockets out West.
Golden State has been the top team in its conference in each of the last three seasons. This season, Curry is averaging 26.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Warriors (53-18).
