Key Takeaways:
- Steph Curry will miss the Golden State Warriors’ NBA Cup opener against the Denver Nuggets due to a worsening illness.
- Curry’s illness surfaced after the Warriors’ road trip to Milwaukee and Indianapolis, impacting his performance in the game against the Phoenix Suns.
- Draymond Green (rib contusion) is listed as probable, and Jimmy Butler (lower back strain) is questionable for the game against the Nuggets.
- Curry is expected to rest at home and is not traveling to Denver, with hopes of returning for Sunday’s game against the Indiana Pacers.
Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry will be sidelined for the team’s highly anticipated NBA Cup opener against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Curry is battling a lingering illness that initially manifested following the Warriors’ recent road trip, which included stops in Milwaukee and Indianapolis. The illness has progressively worsened, forcing the two-time MVP to miss crucial games as the Warriors navigate a challenging portion of their schedule.
Curry’s symptoms began to emerge leading up to the Warriors’ home game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. Despite feeling unwell, he played through the discomfort, managing to score 28 points in 34 minutes of play. However, in a postgame press conference, Curry openly admitted that he was struggling with fatigue in the second half of the game, visibly battling his illness as he coughed and sniffled.
The Warriors wasted no time in ruling Curry out of their Wednesday night game against the Sacramento Kings, which ultimately resulted in a loss for the team. The decision to keep him out of the Nuggets game marks the second consecutive game Curry will miss against a conference opponent, highlighting the severity of his illness and the team’s concern for his well-being.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr provided an update on Curry’s condition, stating that he had been in contact with the star guard. According to Kerr, Curry’s symptoms have been steadily worsening, prompting the decision to keep him away from the team and allow him to rest and recover. Kerr said he texted with Curry and the 17th-year guard told him his symptoms had only been worsening.
Curry is not expected to travel with the team to Denver. Instead, he will remain at home to focus on his recovery in hopes of being ready for Sunday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers in San Francisco.
While Curry’s absence is a significant blow to the Warriors, there is some positive news regarding the potential return of two key players: Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. Green is listed as probable for the game against the Nuggets, recovering from a rib contusion. Butler is questionable due to a lower back strain. Both Green and Butler were forced to sit out the loss against the Kings. Kerr said they are "hopeful" to return against the Nuggets, offering a potential boost to the team’s performance.
