LOS ANGELES — Reinforcements are the horizon for the surging Warriors.
Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are listed as probable heading into Sunday’s afternoon game against the Los Angeles Lakers. That means, barring any setbacks between Saturday afternoon and warmups, they should be good to go for the opener of the Warriors’ three-game road trip this weekend.
Curry, who missed the last 12 games with a left leg injury, and Iguodala, who has played only three games this season, had taken big steps in their rehab processes in recent days by participating in more contact work, including scrimmaging with some of the team’s backups at Chase Center.
Coach Steve Kerr indicated Friday night that there was “a chance” Curry could play Sunday, though he said a decision wouldn’t be made until the team’s medical staff consulted with Curry Saturday afternoon. Kerr also recently said he had been impressed with Curry’s ability to maintain his conditioning. He said the 34-year-old returned the bike just days after he bumped knees with Mavericks guard McKinley Wright IV in a Feb. 4 game.
Meanwhile, Iguodala’s situation has been a lot more fluid, with Kerr saying as recently as Friday that he didn’t have an idea when the 39-year-old veteran could be back.
Iguodala has logged only 42 minutes over three games for the Warriors this season. He last stepped foot on the court in a Warriors uniform on Jan. 13, playing 18 minutes in the team’s win that night. But lingering hip soreness had kept him out since.
While the Warriors knew they’d have to be cautious with Iguodala this season when they signed him to a one-year veteran minimum after contract started, they didn’t expect him to be out this long.
When healthy, Iguodala is an additional playmaker with nearly two decades-worth of experience and brings a veteran defensive presence that could help further shore up the second unit. His return would further delay the team from having to convert one of its two-way players for a guaranteed deal. Anthony Lamb has only one game left on his two-way deal before the Warriors would have to make a decision.
While Curry and Iguodala should provide a boost, there’s still uncertainty surrounding other players’ statuses. The Warriors haven’t provided any more clarity on Andrew Wiggins’ absence as he tends to an undisclosed family matter. Sunday will be the eighth straight game Wiggins will miss for this issue and his 28th scratch in what has been a difficult season for the All-Star wing.
The Warriors could also be without rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr., who’s been able to knock down some timely shots in recent games. After being a late scratch for Friday’s win, the No. 28 overall pick of this year’s draft was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with right ankle soreness.
Kerr said Friday that he didn’t believe Baldwin’s injury to be serious.
Golden State is 34-30 on the season and currently resides in fifth place in a crowded Western Conference standings. While avoiding the play-in tournament was the goal after the Warriors limped into the All-Star break a game below .500, their recent surge has Klay Thompson gunning for home-court advantage in the first round. To do that, they’ll need to secure a top-four seed, which is attainable. They’re one game behind the Phoenix Suns for fourth place.
