SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry took another promising step Wednesday in his recovery from a foot injury.
Curry was a full participant in the Warriors’ first playoff practice and could receive the green light to take part in Thursday’s team practice, an encouraging sign that the superstar guard could be ready in time for the playoffs.
Curry, who’s been nursing a sprained ligament in his left foot for about the last month, was feeling “pretty good” after he “took part in everything” at practice, including situational drills, game planning, shooting and skill work, coach Steve Kerr said.
The eight-time All-Star received a rave review from at least one teammate.
“He looked like Steph, so that’s a good sign,” Gary Payton II said. “I know he’s gonna keep getting better and doing whatever he’s gotta do to be ready.”
Curry will be reevaluated Thursday, but the team was optimistic that Curry would be able to play in Golden State’s upcoming scrimmage, which Kerr said was an “essential” step in Curry’s rehab to determine his availability for Game 1 of the playoffs Saturday.
“We’ve got to see how he feels tomorrow… and then we’ll take the next step,” Kerr said.
The weeklong break between the end of the regular season and start of the playoffs allows the Warriors to have a full team scrimmage between Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets, which is a 5:30 p.m. tip time at Chase Center. Kerr previously said it would be “irresponsible” for the Warriors to play Curry in the playoffs without seeing him in a structured setting like a scrimmage.
Curry has continued to get work done in the gym despite being in a walking boot for the better half of the last month. That’s why the team isn’t too worried about his conditioning.
Curry initially injured his left foot in a Warriors’ home loss to the Boston Celtics on March 16 after Marcus Smart rolled over his foot as the two dove for a loose ball.
He missed the final 12 games of the regular season, during which the Warriors went 6-6.
Curry’s return to practice provided a boost to the team’s moral, and Payton said the team is thrilled to welcome back its leading scorer.
“We know what he brings, what he does on the court and how he helps out and how he makes things difficult for other teams and easier for us,” Payton said. “So we’re just sticking to the game plan.”
Iggy’s final run?
Andre Iguodala hasn’t allowed himself much time this season — his 18th in the league — to slow down and cherish the small moments. That’s, in part, due to his competitive nature and wanting to make sure the Warriors are in the best position to make a run at the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
It’s unclear whether this will be Iguodala’s final hurrah. In August, Iguodala, whose contract expires this summer, told the New York Times that it was important for him to finish his career with the Warriors, with whom he’s won three NBA titles and was crowned the Finals MVP in 2015.
The 38-year-old didn’t offer much insight after practice into what his future plans might be.
“I’ll be done playing basketball sometime soon,” Iguodala said. “I don’t know, you may see me, you might not.”
With the regular season in the rearview mirror and the playoffs quickly approaching, Iguodala said his main priority now is on the team and “making sure that s--- doesn’t go crazy.”
Suspended Nugget
Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo will miss Game 1 of the first round against the Warriors this weekend after he forcefully shoved Lakers guard Wayne Ellington to the floor from behind in Denver’s overtime loss Sunday.
The league on Wednesday slapped Campazzo, who was assessed a Flagrant 2 Foul and ejected in the second quarter because of the incident, with a one-game suspension without pay, which he’ll serve during Saturday’s game at Chase Center. The NBA also announced Ellington would be fined $20,000 for “escalating the incident” after he tweeted that he was going to put his “hands on” Campazzo next time the two came in contact.
Campazzo averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 65 games while primarily coming off the bench for the Nuggets this season.
