By Rafael Bandayrel
Defending champion Golden State Warriors will have to endure the round one of the post-season without Stephen Curry, according to head coach Steve Kerr.
Yesterday's MRI revealed that Curry suffered a grade-two medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain after teammate JaVale McGee landed on him during their 106-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. In his first game back from a sprained right ankle, Curry left in the third quarter limping.
The team announced that the two-time MVP will be evaluated in three weeks which gave Warriors fans hope that Curry will make it back at the beginning of the playoffs. But head coach Steve Kerr said he does not see it happening.
“There’s no way playing in the first round,” Kerr said per The Athletic Bay Area’s Anthony Slater. “We gotta be ready to play without him and see how he’s coming along.”
Steve Kerr's full comment/update on Steph Curry, saying he won't play in the first round pic.twitter.com/jtQ7aPdP25
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 25, 2018
Kerr, however, cited Golden State’s experience of overcoming an injury as a reason to be optimistic. “The good thing is we’ve been through this. We’ve been through it last year with .”
The head coach added that Curry has a history of coming back “strong” from injury. “There’s a good chance that all goes well and goes back during the playoffs at some point and we’re in full-steam. That’s the goal.”