Despite crushing loss, Warriors get some good news about Steph Curry
The Warriors lost another playoff game to the Timberwolves without Steph Curry and now trail 2-1 in the series, but they may have gotten their first slice of hope since Curry left Game 1 with a hamstring injury.
According to multiple reports, Curry did a pregame workout before Saturday’s game, his first such activity since he suffered the Grade 1 left hamstring strain on Tuesday. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported Curry did a shooting routine and rode a stationary bike, calling the workout a “notable advancement.”
San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami also reported about the workout in his postgame column and said he saw part of the workout on the “Warriors Plus Minus” podcast, which he co-hosts with Slater and Marcus Thompson. Both Kawakami and Slater reported the workout was not at a high speed — Kawakami wrote it did not involve running or even jogging — and framed the topic around trying to get Curry back for Game 6, which would be on May 18.
“There’s no way for him to know if the hamstring is ready because they’re not going to push it,” Slater said. “Because you know what happens when you push a tender hamstring? It says, ‘I’m not ready,’ and now you’re waiting longer. So they do not have a feel yet. Steph does not have a feel yet if he will be able to come back by then.
“But clearly the clock is ticking, and he’s going to push himself as much as he can. But we all know they must get one for it to become more realistic.”
Curry sounded incredibly cautious about his injury when speaking to reporters on Thursday, saying this is the first time he’s dealt with any hamstring injury and that he’s “not anywhere close” to trying to push himself to come back. But the fact that he did the workout on Saturday was a positive sign to Kawakami.
“He’s feeling better than he was two days ago,” Kawakami said. Slater quickly added, “He took a step forward today.”
The Warriors haven’t officially ruled Curry out for Game 5 on Wednesday, but ESPN’s Shams Charania and others have reported the team is viewing Game 6 as the earliest possible return date for Curry. Even on the podcast, Kawakami said it bluntly: “He’s not coming back before six.”
Slater wasn’t as certain, saying he would be “curious” what happens if the Warriors lose Game 4, while Thompson put the onus on Warriors vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini: “Rick Celebrini’s going to have to tell him no.”
The Warriors can give Curry the best chance to get fully healthy and not rush himself by winning Game 4 and guaranteeing the Dubs will get the three days off between Game 5 and Game 6. Game 4 tips off on Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
