Warriors' Stephen Curry will play through ankle injury

OAKLAND - Stephen Curry will play through an ankle injury the rest of the season, including the playoffs. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed this Thursday after practice.

“I think (Curry's ankle is) as close to 100 percent healthy as can be,” Kerr said. “I wouldn't say it's 100 percent. I think a summer will ultimately do him some good. There probably are some things to be gained from a summer of some rest and specific rehab that we won't be able to address now.”

Curry has missed the Warriors' past six games, but practiced Wednesday and Thursday. The team lists him as “probable” to play Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.

“(Head Performance Therapist) Chelsea (Lane) has basically told me there's nothing more to be gained from keeping him out,” Kerr said. “That's all I need to hear. If it made sense to give him another week, we would do that, but it doesn't given the nature of his ankle.

“They've made great strides in the rehab the last couple weeks. He's doing well. He feels good. And obviously, he's going to play and we'll see how it goes. But, there's not another level to get to for him with the rehab, so it makes sense to put him out there.”

As Kerr spoke, Curry shot jumpers. Fifteen minutes after Kerr finished, Curry walked over to the media, and a reporter told him what Kerr said about his ankle.

Curry frowned. “I don't want to overstate it,” he said. “There is definitely aspects of bone bruises and ligaments and all that stuff that happens with ankles that doesn't really bother you on the floor.

“If you're being really nitpicky, I'm definitely not 100 percent. There is nothing that's going to happen between now and the end of June that can change that. As long as I'm not putting myself in jeopardy, (and the ankle is) stable and strong and able to support all the moves I try on the floor, I'm good to go.”

But does Curry think he'll need a procedure on his injured right ankle during the offseason?

“Nnnnnnn … I don't know,” Curry said, as he began to say no and corrected himself. “I'm not really in the mood to think about that right now, but I don't think so.”

Meaning a procedure is a possibility.

Curry has rolled his ankle four times since December 4. “I've had three untimely, freak accidents,” he said. “Stepping on E'Twaun Moore's foot, stepping on Zaza's (Pachulia) foot and stepping on Dejounte Murray's foot.”

And rolling his ankle during shootaround on Jan. 10. Curry missed the Warriors' next two games.

“It doesn't matter if I'm shooting 3s or pullups or going to the lane or playing defense,” Curry said, “(rolling an ankle is) liable to happen any time. Other than those instances, I haven't had anything really to worry about on the injury front.

“I'm feeling good. I've had a good two weeks of rehab. Taking a patient approach to getting as close to 100 percent as possible. When I wake up in the morning, I'll know the difference between my right (injured ankle) and left (healthy ankle).

“But that won't stop me from being who I am on the floor, and having confidence in myself when I get back out there.”

The ankle injury hasn't seemed to affect Curry's offensive game this season. He's averaging 26.3 points, shooting 42.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and 59.2 percent inside the arc.

But his defense has taken a hit since Dec. 4, the first time he injured his right ankle. Before that game, his defensive rating was a 102.4, which is good. The lower the number, the better the rating. Klay Thompson's defensive rating for the season is 102.8, and he's a terrific defender.

Since Curry injured his ankle the first time, his defensive rating has been 108.9 - the worst on the team. He seems to be trying to protect his ankle from further injury while playing defense.

“If we're trying to win a championship, I need to be out there,” Curry said. “That's a given when it comes to the team that we put together. We want every single guy out there healthy and available, myself included. That's the ideal situation.

“I'm not coming back on the court feeling like I need to do anything different or play in a different type of way to protect myself. I just want to play aggressive, do what I do and build up that momentum and that rhythm and that chemistry with other guys as everybody starts to come back, gearing up for the playoffs.”

NOTES

Kevin Durant, who has an impartial rib cartilage fracture, is out Friday against the Hawks.

“We won't play him until he's had some contact,” Kerr said. “He told me he is getting better, but he's not all-the-way better. As soon as he is feeling 100 percent, we'll let him play. But until then, we won't.”

So when he returns, he will be fully healthy, unlike Curry.

Draymond Green missed his second practice in a row after suffering a pelvic contusion March 19. He received treatment from the Warriors' medical staff Thursday morning, and will not play against the Hawks.

“No point in playing him until he's had a little practice time,” Kerr said. “I would say he's likely to practice on Saturday. And then, if everything goes well Saturday, he would play Sunday. But day to day.”

Klay Thompson, who broke his right thumb March 11, also will not play against the Hawks. He is day to day, too.