SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry has been unable to play during the Warriors’ past 15 games, sidelined with a sore knee that can only be healed with rest. 

With only a month left in the regular season and a spot in the play-in tournament all but guaranteed for a team that has lost three games in a row, the Warriors recently announced that Curry had resumed on-court work and will be re-evaluated on March 21. 

Winning a championship is almost a fantasy, and even reaching the Western Conference playoffs may be unlikely for a ragtag squad dealing with injuries beyond just Curry as they head into Friday’s home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (7 p.m., NBC Sports Bay Area).

But after leading the Warriors through a lighthearted practice open to season ticketholders at Chase Center on Thursday, coach Steve Kerr became serious when asked if the team has considered shutting Curry down for the season if progress remains slow. 

“No, that hasn’t been a conversation,” Kerr said. 

Curry has officially been diagnosed with pain around his kneecap, commonly known as runner’s knee, as well as bone bruising and has not played since Jan. 30.

Since then, Golden State has gone 5-10 and tumbled into the ninth seed with a 32-33 record. But even if the Warriors fall behind the Blazers (31-35) and into the final play-in spot, there is basically zero chance the tanking teams below them surpass the Warriors.

The 37-year-old guard is working closely with team doctor Rick Celebrini in individual drills, but Kerr said that Curry has yet to participate in team exercises during practice.

“The biggest thing is, is he trending in the right direction, and the answer is yes,” Kerr said. “Talking to Rick today, he’s encouraged with today’s work, and we just have to continue the build-up in a measured pace. We don’t want any setbacks. We’ll continue to be careful, and Rick will lead the effort, obviously, and he’ll be back when he’s back.”

Curry’s March 21 evaluation will come on the day of the Warriors’ game in Atlanta during a six-game road trip. The Warriors’ next home game after that gauntlet is March 25 against the Nets. 

Warriors rookie pays up

LJ Cryer is a proud Houstonian, having starred there at both the prep and collegiate level. So it was truly an odd sight to see him wearing another college’s jersey during the early portion of the Warriors’open practice. 

It was not just any shirt, either: Cryer donned an extra-extra-extra-large No. 25 Steve Kerr Arizona Wildcats jersey. 

“I’m not sure why I have a triple-XL jersey, because it wouldn’t have fit me,” Kerr quipped. “But he’s a good, young guy, paying off his bet.”

After Arizona defeated Houston 73-66 in a battle of top-five college programs on Feb. 21, it took a few weeks for the rookie two-way player to begrudgingly hold up his end of the bet. 

“It did not feel good,” Cryer said. 

The same cannot be said for how he is playing since joining the Warriors squad as a two-way player in March. Cryer has scored in double figures in three of four games and made 12 of 25 3-pointers.