The Warriors scratched Steph Curry moments before Saturday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, but Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in a video conference call with reporters after the game that he was "hopeful" Curry could play Tuesday against the New York Knicks.
Curry's illness didn't require him to be placed in the NBA's coronavirus health and safety protocols, Kerr said, but it was enough to keep him out of the Warriors' only trip to Curry's hometown this season.
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"Even going through his normal warmup routine, he just did not feel well at all," Kerr explained. "He came back [into the locker room], saw the Charlotte team doctor, went out, tried to warm up and just wasn't feeling good. And so we made the decision -- the training staff, and Steph and I, we all made the decision to not play him."
After playing in just five games last season due to a broken left hand, Curry has been an iron man for the Warriors this season. He had played in each of Golden State's 30 games prior to Saturday, averaging the NBA's third-most points per game (29.9) while ranking only 27th in minutes per night (34.1).
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Curry is the Warriors' center of gravity on offense, and Golden State struggled to get good looks in his absence Saturday. The Warriors made just 13-of-39 3-pointers (33.3 percent), well below their usual 38.3 percent clip with him on the floor this season.
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Golden State still had a great chance to win in Curry's absence, before Draymond Green was ejected and Charlotte's Terry Rozier made both technical free throws to tie the game. Rozier won the game on the ensuing possession with a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper.