November 2, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is training before the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The Golden State Warriors will be hoping to have Stephen Curry back in the lineup when they extend their winning streak against old friend Jordan Poole and the Washington Wizards on Monday night in the nation’s capital.
Curry suffered a left ankle injury in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 27 and has missed the Warriors’ last three games, all wins.
The 10-time All-Star and 2024 Olympic gold medalist accompanied the team on a five-game road trip that began with a 127-121 overtime win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. The win improved Golden State’s road record to 3-0.
Curry was reviewed on Friday and cleared to work out with the team, making steady progress leading up to Monday’s game, according to the Warriors. Nonetheless, he will be classified as an unknown how he will feel in the warm-up.
Meanwhile, fellow veteran Draymond Green believes the Warriors have rallied to the impression that they are formidable without Curry.
“To be honest with you, we’re all sick and tired of hearing that,” Green said after the win over Houston. “Steph is Steph and we all know it. But for some reason, when Steph goes out, everyone acts like we can’t play. We’re all tired of that. And there’s added motivation to win these three .
“You’d be crazy to think that wasn’t mentioned. We’re all NBA players. We’re all-stars, we’re first-round picks. And for whatever reason, every time Steph goes out, everyone’s like, ‘Oh, the world has fallen apart.’ Now we want him out like everyone else, but we can still perform.”
The reserves played a key role in the win in Houston. Buddy Hield led the way with a team-high 27 points, while Jonathan Kuminga (23 game points) and Kyle Anderson carried the offensive load in the 8-2 overtime win.
The Warriors swept the Wizards’ series the past two seasons, including a 123-112 win in Washington last February in which Kuminga scored 21 points and Curry had 18.
Poole, who was traded to the Wizards last offseason, struggled in his first two games with the Warriors. He totaled 37 points but shot just 12-for-38, including 5-for-20 on 3-pointers. He also had seven turnovers in the mix.
Now in his second season in Washington, the 25-year-old is off to a high scoring start, leading the team with 22.2 points per game. He has topped 20 points in four of five games, including the last three. He scored 21 points on Saturday as the Wizards traveled to Mexico City and lost 118-98 to the Miami Heat.
Wizards coach Brian Keefe notes that Poole is working to improve areas that were criticized during his time in Golden State.
“His defensive work has been great, and he’s been methodical and in the flow of the game,” Keefe said.
One person the Warriors may have difficulty recognizing is emerging second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly, who had just seven points in his only game against Golden State last season.
The Frenchman improved his scoring average this season from 8.4 to 19.4, thanks to three 20-plus point performances in his last four games.
–Field level media
