SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors had deliberate on treating Friday’s preseason finale in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers as one final check drive earlier than subsequent Wednesday’s season-opener in Portland. However an damage to famous person level guard Steph Curry made Golden State name an audible.
Curry, 36, sprained his proper index finger throughout observe on Thursday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated. The damage is minor, however dominated Curry out for the sport nonetheless.
“Not serious,” Kerr stated. “Just precautionary.”
As a substitute of the preseason finale serving as a precursor to the common season, the Warriors will cut back the minutes on their regulars. Draymond Inexperienced is just anticipated to play the primary half, Kerr stated, a choice made after Curry’s damage.
The Lakers, on the second evening of an odd preseason back-to-back, are additionally actually not treating Friday as a gown rehearsal. Los Angeles sat LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell.
“This is definitely not a dress rehearsal,” Kerr stated. “I think we had planned on it, but with Steph going out, it changed our thinking.”
Curry jammed his proper index finger per week in the past in final Friday’s preseason contest in opposition to the Sacramento Kings. He left that sport and didn’t return, as an alternative understanding within the second half on his personal within the weight room.
Curry returned after one missed sport and put collectively his greatest evening of the preseason, registering 16 factors and 6 assists in a win over the Lakers in Las Vegas.
General this preseason, Curry is averaging 11 factors in 18.3 minutes per sport, capturing an uncharacteristic 28% from behind the 3-point arc.
For Friday’s contest, De’Anthony Melton changed Curry within the beginning lineup, becoming a member of Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Inexperienced and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Kerr stated the crew nonetheless hasn’t decided on the beginning lineup for the season-opener.
Kerr wished to see Curry play with that unit as soon as extra, however should accept one sport of tape on that mixture. This complete preseason has been an experiment in lineup trial and error for Kerr and the Warriors as they attempt to fold in three new veterans and generate extra factors in transition, extra 3-pointers and extra defensive-minded teams.
The common season would be the true check, however the Warriors have achieved a lot of their goals within the preseason. At 5-0 coming into Friday, they’re the one undefeated preseason crew within the league.
“I like winning, so that part has been good,” Kerr stated. “I like that we played fast last game, and that’s what we’re looking for, particularly from (Wiggins), (Kuminga), and Trayce. When those guys run the floor hard both ways, we’re a different team. That’s what I’m looking for. We’ve done a good job in camp of adding some new things, getting more organized offensively and working on different things. I like where we are, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
