Curry returned for Game 4 of the Warriors‘ five-game Western Conference semifinals against Portland two years ago and made 16 of 32 shots with five 3-pointers and scored 17 points in overtime on the way to 40 in a 132-125 victory. He grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists.
If that is any indicator, the New Orleans Pelicans better be ready for a superstar as eager as ever to get back on the court and chase a repeat championship.
The two-time MVP, sidelined since spraining his left knee March 23, is expected to play Tuesday night in Game 2 against New Orleans with what is sure to be a fired-up crowd at Oracle Arena. The Warriors have won a franchise-record 13 straight home playoff games.
In late December against Memphis, Curry came back after being sidelined 11 games with a sprained right ankle to score 38 points with 10 3-pointers.
”I’m not too worried about him. I’ve seen him come back from injuries many times,” coach Steve Kerr said Monday. ”… Sometimes it’s just one shot that gets him going.”
And what a boost Curry’s presence could be for the defending champions who are already clicking on both ends.
”He loves the game just as much as anybody I ever been around and I know he wants to play. I’ve just been thinking about that, just worrying about how he feels not playing,” reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant said. ”… Excited for him to get back just to be in a place where he enjoys most, which is playing ball, and the other stuff, we’ll figure it out. But I’m more so excited as his brother that he’s out there, he gets to play basketball, something that he loves to do.”
The Pelicans prepared all week to see Curry back on the court and they know they must bounce back fast to stay in this best-of-seven series after a 123-101 flop in Saturday night’s Game 1.
Golden State scored 41 points in the second quarter and 76 in the first half – both new franchise-bests for the postseason. The Warriors shot 13 for 20 in the second, making four 3s and 11 of 14 free throws.
While New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry thought his team’s long layoff might have hurt Alex Burmistrov Jersey , the players said it was much more.
”We hang our hats on defense,” Rajon Rondo said. ”What happened in the second quarter is inexcusable. I can’t blame it on a week off of rest. It’s a lack of communication and not being disciplined. If we can clean that up, I think we’ll be fine.”
Anthony Davis and Rondo will challenge the Pelicans to play with more intensity on the defensive end. The Warriors thrived when they made things hard on Davis to take shots, got stops and pushed the ball in transition.
”We’re very confident. It’s one game. They win by 40, you win by one, 90, it’s one game,” Davis said. ”It’s still best-out-of-seven. Our job is to learn from what we messed up tonight and get prepared for Game 2.”
The Warriors have taken their defense to another level, led by Durant and Draymond Green – who is coming off a triple-double and has 15, 19 and 18 rebounds in his past three games, respectively.
Golden State also is pushing the pace, a far different game than in the first round against the Spurs.
”We all like to get out in transition,” Warriors guard Shaun Livingston said Monday. ”We can slow it down and we understand to win games we’ll have to execute and maybe win some grind-out games, that’s just part of playoff basketball Russ Grimm Jersey , but everybody loves to run.”
Here’s something to know about the Cleveland-Toronto series opener, also Tuesday:
CAVALIERS AT RAPTORS. Game 1, 8 p.m. EDT, TNT
LeBron James just won his fifth straight Game 7 and now the Cavs will face the Raptors for the third consecutive postseason.
Toronto eliminated the Wizards in a six-game first round and now the challenge is stopping LeBron and his supporting cast.
”We understand everything starts and stops with him,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. ”There’s certain things you want to give up with him, there’s certain things you have no choice in the matter. There’s a pecking order as far as what we want to give up, what we live with.”
The Cavs are 8-2 against Toronto the past two postseasons and went 5-2 in matchups during the regular season the past two years.
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AP Freelance Writer Ian Harrison contributed to this report from Toronto.
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One season after the NFC South sent three teams to the playoffs, the division may be just as deep.
The Atlanta Falcons know they can't afford to fall too far behind in the division as they prepare to play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Atlanta made the playoffs at 10-6 in 2017 despite finishing third in the South, behind New Orleans and Carolina.
Now, coming off last week's loss at Philadelphia , the Falcons (0-1) need to beat the Panthers to avoid falling two games behind only two weeks into the season.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the team that wins the NFC South this season "will have been in some fights."
For Carolina and Atlanta, this is an early opportunity to establish a pecking order in the division.
"For us to have a division game ... early in the season, I think it's good for us and good for the division, too Zack Smith Jersey ," Quinn said.
A road win would be another strong statement for Carolina (1-0), which won its opener over Dallas .
Each team has lost key starters to injuries.
Carolina tight end Greg Olsen and as many as three offensive linemen could be held out. Olsen has a broken bone in his foot for the second straight year , but hopes to return this season and has not been placed on injured reserve.
Panthers right tackle Daryl Williams (knee) was placed on IR Wednesday, joining left tackle Matt Kalil (knee), who was put on IR before Week 1. Also, three-time Pro Bowl right guard Trai Turner was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol on Wednesday.
"We are missing a Pro Bowler on offense," said wide receiver Devin Funchess, referring to Olsen. "We are just here to play our game. Those guys don't make up their whole team and Greg does not make up our whole team. ... I know for sure in our locker room we have the next-man-up mentality."
The Falcons placed two key defensive starters , safety Keanu Neal (left knee) and linebacker Deion Jones, on injured reserve this week. Neal will miss the remainder of the season. The team hopes Jones will return , but he must miss at least eight games.
Meanwhile, running back Devonta Freeman could be held out with a knee injury. Tevin Coleman would move up to the role of lead back.
Here are some things to know about this NFC South showdown:
REPLACING OLSEN
The Panthers will turn to rookie Ian Thomas at tight end. Thomas is still very raw having only played two seasons of major college football at Indiana.
Quarterback Cam Newton said it's impossible to replace Olsen, a three-time 1,000-yard receiver. Newton likes what he's seen from Thomas.
"He has everything you would want in a premier tight end Tyler Toffoli Jersey ," Newton said. "But he has to believe in himself and know that it starts with understanding the small things make a big difference."
TEVIN'S TIME
Quinn prefers having Freeman and Coleman split the carries "because then we can feature the uniqueness of them, the balance of them." But Sunday could be another chance for Coleman to prove he can be more than a backup. He had six starts in his first three seasons.
"We highly regard Tevin," Quinn said. "We've been down this road if it gets to that, Tevin can certainly handle that."
TIGHTEN IT UP
Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and defensive tackle Kawann Short led Carolina's defense in holding Dallas to 232 yards and eight points last week. Kuechly was all over the field, making 13 tackles. He set the tone with six stops in the first quarter.
"Luke played out of his mind," defensive coordinator Eric Washington said. "But that's who Luke Kuechly is."
Short had two timely sacks. He lines up beside former Falcons defensive tackle Dontari Poe.
BAYOU BROTHERHOOD
In a handoff from one former Louisiana State player to another, Duke Riley will take over for Jones at inside linebacker. Riley had been starting on the weak side.
Rookie Foyesade Oluokun, a sixth-round pick out of Yale, could share time with Kemal Ishmael at weakside linebacker, with De'Vondre Campbell still starting on the strongside.
Damontae Kazee will be start at Neal's safety spot.
QUICK STUDY
The Panthers' makeshift offensive line could include eight-year NFL veteran tackle Chris Clark , who was signed on Wednesday. Coach Ron Rivera said Clark is "in really good shape right now."
AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report. Womens Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys