Curry of the Warriors anticipated to make comeback on Sunday against the Rockets.
SAN FRANCISCO — After two productive scrimmages, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is anticipated to receive official approval for a return to the lineup on Sunday, having missed the last 27 games due to a persistent issue with his right knee, according to league sources who spoke to ESPN.
This absence extended beyond Curry’s initial expectations. He exited the Warriors’ defeat against the Detroit Pistons on January 30 due to discomfort and swelling in his right knee. Over the past two months, he faced several setbacks while trying to ramp up his activity in order to return to play.
However, his knee has shown positive progress in recent weeks, and after participating in two five-on-five scrimmages this week at the team’s facility in San Francisco, Curry has met the required medical criteria. He is set to practice with the team on Saturday and is projected to be in the lineup on Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
The Warriors hold a record of 23-16 with Curry on the court this season, but they have struggled with a 13-25 record in the 38 games he has been absent. This 36-41 record places them in 10th position in the Western Conference, indicating they will need to secure two victories in the play-in games in mid-April to contend for a playoff spot as the eighth seed, likely facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Despite the challenges, including the injury to his co-star, Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL in January, Curry has remained driven behind the scenes to rehabilitate and return in time to uplift the franchise’s morale as they navigate a difficult season, even if aspirations for a championship seem out of reach.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned last week that Curry would require a “runway” of games to regain his rhythm and increase his workload ahead of the crucial play-in games. The team has five games remaining in the regular season.
