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The Portland Trail Blazers will catch a break on Friday night as they face the Golden State Warriors; guard Stephen Curry will not play after suffering an ankle injury against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Marc Spears of ESPN delivers the news.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry (ankle) is taking the trip to Portland tonight, but won't play tomorrow, coach Steve Kerr said. https://t.co/4DKx6EiOl9
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) March 9, 2018
Video of the injury is here.
Right ankle roll by Curry as he got near the backboard stanchion. pic.twitter.com/wGlrhr39Dg
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) March 9, 2018
The Blazers are riding an 8-game winning streak behind masterful play from Damian Lillard, who always seems to play strong against the Warriors. Even though the game is in Portland, facing the World Champions would have been a stiff test for the Blazers. It’ll be made that much easier without the two-time NBA MVP.
Curry is averaging 26.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Warriors this season on 49.5% shooting from the floor, 42.4% from the three-point arc.
The Blazers are in a frantic scramble for positioning in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, currently clinging to 3rd place in the Western Conference by a half game over the New Orleans Pelicans, whose superstar center Anthony Davis also suffered an ankle injury this week. The Blazers stand 4 games ahead of the 8th-place Los Angeles Clippers, but just 3 games in the loss column. 17 games remain in Portland’s season.