Stephen Curry (knee) preparing for full-contact drills in practice

ATLANTA — The Golden State Warriors have announced that star guard Stephen Curry will be unavailable for their next two games, but they intend to include him in live contact practices shortly as he approaches a possible return.

Curry has been out due to a lingering right knee issue since January 30, missing the last 20 games. He will not play in Atlanta on Saturday night and in Dallas on Monday night, extending his absence to 22 games as the Warriors have fallen in the standings.

However, the team has scheduled Curry’s next assessment for Tuesday after they return from this six-game road trip, which could allow him to return to the court for the final stretch if his knee continues to respond positively to increased activity. They are set to face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and the Washington Wizards on Friday in San Francisco.

This period has been difficult for the Warriors. They have recorded a 6-14 record without Curry, losing seven of their last eight games, which has dropped them to the 10th position in the standings.

Head coach Steve Kerr has acknowledged that the team is currently in the play-in bracket, expressing confidence that they can secure a playoff spot if Curry is ready to play in April. They also anticipate the return of veteran center Al Horford (calf strain) and starting guard Moses Moody (wrist sprain) soon.

Curry’s injury is classified as patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly referred to as “runner’s knee,” which generally involves swelling and discomfort around the kneecap. He has experienced several setbacks in his recovery over the past two months, but has finally made sufficient progress to receive clearance for contact practice.