SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry appears to be nearing a return to the court after missing over two months with runner’s knee.
Following practice at Chase Center on Tuesday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Curry practiced with the team and would participate in a scrimmage later in the day.
“We’ve got to see how he responds to the scrimmage,” Kerr said. “It’s just a progression from here, so if he’s feeling well, we’ll scrimmage again and we’ll just go from here.”
Kerr said later in a Tuesday afternoon interview on radio station 95.7 The Game that Curry “looked good” in the scrimmage, stressing that the team was taking the situation “day by day” given that his recovery from workouts has been part of the issue.
Curry has missed the past 25 games, last appearing Jan. 30 against Detroit.
The Warriors expected he would return to drills after the All-Star break in early February, but Curry reported more swelling in his knee, further delaying his rehabilitation.
Curry did pregame shooting drills on March 18 in Boston and was expected to scrimmage over the next few days at that point. However, he did not take that next step until Tuesday.
The Warriors play their next five games at home. Kerr added that Curry will not play against the Spurs on Wednesday, and is highly doubtful for Thursday’s game against the Cavaliers.
The Warriors’ next game after that is against the Rockets on Sunday. Kerr has repeatedly reiterated that the Warriors will need to give Curry several games to “ramp up” his minutes ahead of an inevitable play-in tournament game in two weeks.
For a team that has slid down the standings in Curry’s absence, his return to practice provided an energy boost.
“The gym was bouncier, and everyone’s spirits are lifted when he’s playing,” Kerr said.
Gui Santos did not participate in the scrimmage, but he was around for practice, and agreed with Kerr’s assessment. Curry has averaged 27.2 points per game in 39 starts this season, and his presence will help open up the court for Santos and the rest of the younger players.
“It’s amazing, just to have him out there with us is always great,” Santos said. “We have a lot more confidence when we have a guy like Steph on the court.”
The Warriors (36-39) need Curry to be on the floor to have a chance of advancing past the play-in.
Golden State is 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers, who own the tiebreaker over the Warriors. The Clippers, who host the Warriors in the regular-season finale, are three games ahead of them.
Horford wants to play
Curry is not the only veteran the Warriors are hoping to see return to the rotation soon. Al Horford has missed the past nine games with a calf injury, leaving the Warriors’ frontcourt even thinner now that Quinten Post has also been ruled out for Wednesday’s game with a right foot injury.
Horford, 39, emphasized that he still hopes to come back before the end of the regular season. He still has to clear a number of hurdles before that happens, though.
“I’m still not practicing with the team, just doing individual stuff. But I feel pretty well,” Horford said. “I feel like I’m progressing, and I’m encouraged by that.”
Despite only playing in only 43 games this season, Horford was announced as one of just six candidates for the NBA’s annual Sportsmanship Award on Tuesday morning. Former Warrior Harrison Barnes, now with San Antonio, is also a candidate.