The Golden State Warriors are gearing up for a boost as star point guard Stephen Curry is expected to return to the court Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Curry has missed the last five games due to a left quadriceps contusion and strain sustained against Houston, impacting the Warriors’ offensive flow. His return not only strengthens the teamS championship aspirations but also marks a special occasion as he’ll share the floor with brother Seth Curry for the first time as teammates.
Stephen Curry looks to return to action Friday vs. Minnesota after missing the previous 5 games.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry is expected to return to the Golden State Warriors lineup Friday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking his first game action in over a week. The Warriors went 3-2 during his absence, and now fans will get to see Curry share the court with his younger brother, Seth, for the first time.
Curry has been sidelined for the past five games with a left quadriceps contusion and muscle strain, suffered during Golden State’s 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets on November 26. He confirmed Thursday that he’s regained full range of motion and feels ready to play at full speed.
“Feeling great. I had a good rehab week and the guys took care of business on the trip, so that was great to see the energy coming back,” Curry said after practice Thursday. “I’m happy to practice the last couple days to see how I feel. After these last two sessions I’m pretty optimistic.”
The 37-year-old two-time Kia MVP spent the recent road trip focused on rehabilitation, dedicating four to six hours each day at Chase Center working with the medical and training staff. He participated in his first full practice with the team on Wednesday.
“A lot of long days. You always talk about rehab, it’s monotonous, especially when the team is away,” he said. “You’ve got to have some really good playlists.”
Curry’s injury occurred during a collision with Houston’s Amen Thompson under the basket with 3:24 remaining in the game. The play was initially called an offensive foul, but overturned to a block by Curry after a challenge. He immediately grimaced in pain and limped to the locker room with 35 seconds left on the clock.
Rebuilding strength in the strained muscle and surrounding areas was a key focus during his recovery. “That’s what the work has been the last week and as I got full range of motion back, then I could get back out on the floor pretty quickly and get back to moving normally,” he explained.
While Curry was sidelined, his teammates stepped up, most recently securing a dominant 123-91 win against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Curry praised their performance and expressed confidence that the team’s momentum will continue with his return.
“You just want guys playing with confidence, and that’s what it ended up being like in Chicago,” Curry said. “It was great to see. Everybody felt involved, everybody was playing, reading the game and taking the shots that you’re supposed to take. So nothing should change when I’m out there.”
