OAKLAND -- For the second day in a row, Warriors coach Steve Kerr put an encouraging spin on the injury that forced Stephen Curry to the sideline.
Curry sustained a left groin strain Thursday night in the third quarter of a 134-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. It initially was described as an adductor strain, which refers to the muscles in the groin region.
Commenting 95 minutes before tipoff against the Nets on Saturday night, Kerr said he had checked in on progress made by Curry, whom sports medicine director Rick Celebrini still is monitoring.
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“I saw him this morning, and he is feeling better,” Kerr said. “He did some work with Rick at the facility, and he had better mobility and less pain. It’s a good sign.”
Kerr on Friday said he was encouraged by the results from the MRI test on Curry but immediately ruled the guard out of the game against Brooklyn. About two hours later, the Warriors issued a statement that clarified Kerr’s comment.
“Preliminary analysis suggests Curry suffered a mild to moderate left groin strain,” the statement read in part. “The Warriors training staff will continue to evaluate the results of the MRI and the injury over the next few days.”
It’s safe to assume Curry will not play Monday in Los Angeles against the Clippers or Tuesday at Oracle Arena against the Atlanta Hawks.
Golden State Warriors
It’s also conceivable, based on medical opinions and previous NBA groin injuries, that Curry will miss multiple weeks. Here are four recent examples of recovery from “mild to moderate” groin strains:
-- Lakers forward Brandon Ingram last March. Team announced he’d be out two weeks. He was out for 24 days, missing 12 games.
-- Suns guard Devin Booker last December. Team announced he’d be out two weeks. He missed nine games over three weeks.
-- Rockets guard Chris Paul last December. Paul left the game after experiencing “discomfort” but later told reporters he was fine. Coach Mike D’Antoni said it was “nothing alarming.” Paul was out just eight days, missing three games.
Kerr and the Warriors surely would like to see Curry healthy and back on the court sometime next week. While such a quick return is possible, it’s also very optimistic.