Steph Curry Returns from Injury to Help Golden State to Game One Win Over the Nuggets
Steph Curry underlined his importance to the Golden State Warriors’ push for an NBA title by coming off the bench to help his side to a game one win over the Denver Nuggets in their first-round playoff clash.
The 34-year-old has been out for a month with a sprained ligament in his left foot but was brought on to help the Warriors to a 123-107 win. The Warriors were 6-6 for the period that Curry was out, which goes some way to show just how important the three-time NBA champion is to coach Steve Kerr’s set-up.
The Warriors are well placed to go all the way, and when it comes to their betting odds, Sidelines.io NBA cites the Chase Center team as the third favorite in the race, behind the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. Clearly, with a fit-again Steph Curry among Kerr’s line-up, those chances increase significantly.
Amazingly it’s only the second time in ten years Curry has come off the bench, and it’s a move that Kerr was happy to facilitate, explaining his decision accordingly;
“It was pretty clear. He felt good,” Steve Kerr said before the encounter with the Nuggets.
“The only question was how he would feel the next day, and he felt good yesterday. Yesterday was a pretty light day, and we felt really good about yesterday as we talked about it, and today he is good to go.”
Clearly, Kerr is mindful about bringing back Curry too early, such is his importance, and felt that allowing him some game time was a safe enough course of action to take. It’s entirely possible he may be on the bench for Game Two also, especially if it’s clear that the eight-time All-Star pick is still not at his very best.
This was the Warriors’ first playoff game since 2019, and it was Jordan Poole who did most of the damage on the night. He collected 30 points and is now a good shot for the Most Improved Player Award.
Kerr waited until late into the second quarter before fielding Curry, Klay Thompson, and Poole together, and their combined appearance coincided with an 18-4 run that gave Golden State a 58-47 half-time lead.
Crucially the Warriors successfully contained Nikola Jokic, who began well enough before fading into the background, effectively handing the momentum to Kerr’s team, which they duly built upon.
Kerr was full of praise for Poole in his debut playoff win, stating;
“He’s not afraid of the moment.”
He also sang the praises of Draymond Green, exclaiming;
“He’s one of the best players in the league. Tonight he showed why.”
Everything is set up in the Golden State Warriors favor ahead of Game Two, and we’d suggest that Kerr’s team has too much about them for the Nuggets to have any hope of playoff progress.
We’d happily back the Warriors to go all the way this year, not least because Kerr has a fully fit Klay Thompson back in his squad to add further quality to his roster.
