Stephen Curry is now expected to play in Game 1 of the Golden State Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.
Curry, who has been out since March 16th with a foot injury, is expected to rejoin the line-up for the Warriors as they square off with likely-MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors, who finished third in the Western Conference with a 53-29 record, have posted a 6-6 record during Curry’s most recent absence. The team posted a 45-19 record with Curry in the line-up this season, going 8-10 without their star point guard overall.
Curry’s absence has coincided with a surge in scoring from Warriors guard Jordan Poole, who has averaged a career-high 18.5 points this season. Poole upped that average, scoring 25.8 points per game during Curry’s most recent 12-game absence.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Stephen Curry’s Game 1 Status For Warriors-Nuggets Still Uncertain
With Curry returning to the line-up, the Warriors are now fully healthy entering the playoffs, excluding center James Wiseman.
While the Warriors boast a near-clean bill of health, the same cannot be said for their opponent, the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have missed star guard Jamal Murray for the entire season and have not said if they will expect him back soon. Nuggets forward, Michael Porter Jr. has also been missing since November, with his return date still in question.
The return of Stephen Curry for the Warriors elevates them to one of the West’s top contenders. The Warriors have a winning record (2-1) versus the conference-leading Phoenix Suns with Steph Curry in their lineup.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Stephen Curry’s Game 1 Status For Warriors-Nuggets Still Uncertain
The Nuggets won the regular-season series vs. the Warriors 3-1, but none of those games featured Draymond Green, the Warriors’ defensive cornerstone. With the Warriors now fully healthy, they present a different challenge for the Nuggets.
The Golden State Warriors’ star trio of Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry has not seen the floor much this season. However, the trio will likely be ready to go in round one with years of chemistry under their belts.
