Warriors expect Steph Curry to play opener vs. Lakers after ankle tweak
Curry tweaked his right ankle in an open scrimmage Sunday, but the Warriors expect him on the floor Wednesday night against the Lakers, per ESPN.
Everybody take a breath. Put the paper bag down. The Warriors' news this week is a scare that, as of Monday evening, looks like nothing more than a scare, and that's my bold take: Steph Curry plays Wednesday, and we all spend the night yelling at the Lakers instead of at a trainer's table.
The ankle
Here's where it stands. Per ESPN, Curry tweaked his right ankle during an open scrimmage on Sunday. That's the exact sentence nobody in the Bay wants to read in the same week as opening night. ESPN also reported that he limped off the practice court, and I'll be honest, my stomach did a full flip reading that.
But then came the reassurance. Steve Kerr said Curry is fine, per ESPN's report Sunday night. And on Monday evening, ESPN reported that the Warriors expect Curry to be available for Wednesday's season opener against the Lakers.
Note the word: expect. That is not a guarantee, and I'm not going to pretend it is. It's a team telling us it believes he'll be ready. The Warriors haven't offered more detail than that in what ESPN has reported, so I'm not going to make any up.
Why I'm not panicking
Tweaked is not the same as torn. Nobody in the reporting has used a scarier word, and "expect to play" the day after is about as good as a Sunday limp can turn into. Could that change by Wednesday? Sure. That's why I'll be watching for updates until tip-off. But right now, the news points the right way.
The bigger picture
Opening night against the Lakers. Curry in the lineup, or not. That's the question hanging over the whole Bay for the next two days, and the facts we have say lean toward yes.
Also on the radar: ESPN has put out its full season preview covering all 30 teams, with rankings, predictions and odds, for anyone who wants the national take before the opener. I'll leave the rankings argument for another column.
For now? Ice, rest, and get that ankle ready. We have a Lakers game to win.