Porziņģis Debuts as Warriors Say Curry Will Be Re-evaluated in 10 Days
The warriors learned Thursday that Stephen Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days for a persistent right knee injury and is expected to miss at least five more games, while Kristaps Porziņģis made his debut in the team’s matchup with the Celtics. The developments reshape the roster for the stretch after the All-Star break.
Warriors coach outlines timeline and possible next steps
Coach Steve Kerr said Curry has been sidelined since Jan. 30 and missed the last five games before the All-Star break. Kerr said Curry was "just wasn’t where he needed to be, " adding, "It’s unfortunate. We’ll have an update tomorrow after he goes through his time with the training staff. " The team plans to re-evaluate the guard in 10 days and says a follow-up MRI is possible after consultation with Dr. Rick Celebrini, the club’s lead medical decision-maker.
Porziņģis debuted against the Celtics
Kristaps Porziņģis, who was acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga at the trade deadline, made his first appearance for the Warriors in the contest with the Celtics. Porziņģis entered the rotation after a season that has included both illness and Achilles tendonitis; he is averaging 17. 1 points and 5. 1 rebounds in 17 games this season.
What this means in the short term
With Curry unavailable, the Warriors will proceed without their veteran guard for the immediate slate of games. The team announced that Curry will miss at least five more games after the season resumes, a decision intended to give him additional time to recover. Curry also missed the All-Star Game as part of that rehabilitation plan.
The Porziņģis addition provides a frontcourt scoring option while Curry is out, but the club emphasized a cautious approach to Curry’s recovery. Kerr noted the possibility of further imaging and a continued ramp-up with the training staff before a return to game action.
Next up for the team, Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days as planned; until then, Porziņģis will continue integrating into the rotation and the Warriors will adjust their lineup for the resumed schedule.
