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The Golden State Warriors have been extremely cautious with their best players this season, and several injured stars could be returning soon.
General manager Bob Myers told 95.7 The Game Wednesday that Stephen Curry should play Friday, while Klay Thompson is considered a “maybe” for Sunday. Kevin Durant could be ready to return at the start of April.
Curry has been dealing with an ankle injury throughout the season and has been in and out of the lineup, with it recently keeping him out since March 8. However, the injury wasn’t as serious as it could have been.
“If these were the playoffs right now, Steph would be playing,” head coach Steve Kerr said Thursday on KNBR 680, via Drew Shiller of NBC Sports.
Having three scheduled off days likely helped the two-time MVP get the necessary extra rest.
Thompson has been out since March 11 with a broken thumb, although his potential return on Sunday is also encouraging.
A longer timeline for Durant is a bit of a bigger problem as he deals with a rib fracture, especially with the season ending on April 10. The team is obviously hoping to be at full strength before the start of the playoffs.
Even with these injuries, the Warriors are in second place in the Western Conference with a 53-18 record, but the four-game deficit to the Houston Rockets seems insurmountable at this stage in the battle for the No. 1 seed.