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OAKLAND — The moment brought a visible reminder of the Warriors’ star power as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant resumed their shooting workouts during the tail end of Thursday’s practice.
Another moment brought a visible reminder of the Warriors’ tenuous health as Klay Thompson practiced with a bandage on his fractured right thumb, while shooting left handed.
The Warriors are becoming healthier, but they are not fully healthy. Curry plans to return for when the Warriors (53-18) host the Atlanta Hawks (21-50) on Friday at Oracle Arena after missing the past six games with a right ankle injury. Durant (right ribs), Thompson (right thumb) and Draymond Green (pelvic contusion) remain sidelined. While Curry, Durant and Thompson participated in all of Thursday’s non-contact practice, Green sat out.
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Afterwards, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry will unlikely have any minutes restriction. Kerr added that Curry’s rehab has been “very productive.” It would be a stretch to say his ankle has fully healed, though.
“It’s as close to 100% healthy as can be. I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent,” Kerr said. “I think a summer will ultimately do him some good. There’s probably some things to be gained with a summer of some rest and specific rehab we won’t be able to address now. So everything we’ve been able to address, we’ve addressed. I think we should be good. But I wouldn’t tell you he’s 100 percent. Not many people are at this stage.”
That includes Thompson, Durant and Green.
Durant is out for at least another week after missing the past three games because of an incomplete rib cartilage fracture. Durant showed promising signs, however, as he participated in a post-practice workout with Curry on Thursday. Durant displayed the same kind of shooting accuracy and precise footwork that has made him one of the NBA’s best scorers. But Durant has to complete a full-contact practice before the Warriors feel comfortable assessing his game readiness.
“He told me he’s getting better but not all the way better,” Kerr said. “The nature of the injury is it’s all going to be symptomatic. As soon as he’s feeling 100 percent, we’ll let him play. Until then, we won’t.”
The Warriors plan to reevaluate Thompson on Thursday, but he is expected to stay out for another week. He has trained in the weight room and recent days, and he also spent time on Thursday finessing his left-handed shot. Kerr joked that “he’d be a better lefty shooter than most of the guys right handed.” But even if Kerr sensed that is “something I think can help going forward,” that will not dictate Thompson’s return.
“Klay’s left hand is getting better and better. We need his right hand operating smoothly before he plays,” Kerr said.
Lastly, Kerr described Draymond Green as still feeling “sore” after Spurs forward Danny Green inadvertently kicked Draymond Green near his groin during Monday’s game in San Antonio. He then missed the last 2 1/2 quarters. Afterwards, Green did not consider the serious, but he has not practiced in the past two days.
“No point in playing him until he has practice time,” Kerr said. Therefore, Kerr said that Green will likely practice on Saturday and return on Sunday against Utah.
First things first, though. Curry will return after having what he called “two good weeks of rehab.”
“I’m feeling good. “I’ve taken a patient approach to trying to get as close to 100 percent as possible. When I wake up in the morning, I know the difference between my right and my left, but that’s won’t stop me from being who I am on the court and having confidence out there.”
