Stephen Curry is poised to rejoin the opening lineup this evening, as the Warriors gear up to begin Game 5 with the small-ball formation that has posed matchup difficulties for the Nuggets throughout their playoff series, according to a tweet from Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Kevon Looney will be coming off the bench as Draymond Green assumes the center position.
This will signify Curry’s inaugural start since sustaining a sprained left foot and bone bruise in mid-March, which led to his absence for the remainder of the regular season. Despite being a potent threat coming off the bench, Curry has been averaging 27.5 points per game and shooting 38.9% from beyond the arc in the first four playoff encounters.
Here are more updates from the Pacific Division:
- Jonathan Kuminga could potentially witness an expanded role now that Andre Iguodala is ruled out for the remainder of the series due to a neck injury, states Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga saw 11 minutes of action in Game 4, all in the second quarter, where he notched nine points and made a defensive impact. Despite Iguodala’s offensive struggles, he contributed in various aspects, including handling some minutes as center in the previous game. “The neck is troubling him again,” coach Steve Kerr disclosed during the shootaround today. “He’s upset that he won’t be able to play.”
- An injury curtailed Norman Powell‘s tenure with the Clippers shortly after his acquisition during the trade deadline, but he is optimistic about embarking on a fresh journey with the team in the upcoming season, as per insights shared by Law Murray of The Athletic. Powell aspires to reach the caliber of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to serve as the team’s third All-Star. “I believe I’m prepared for that role as a primary contributor,” he expressed. “That’s my mission every night – to demonstrate that I can hold my ground against the elite players globally, while prioritizing team success over individual achievements.”
- Kings center Domantas Sabonis is eagerly anticipating his inaugural full season with the squad, as reported by Alex Kramers of NBA.com. Sabonis swiftly adapted to his new environment following his departure from the Pacers in a trade deal, and he aims to foster teamwork with his squadmates during the offseason. “We had limited time to train together, learn all the plays, defensive strategies, and more,” Sabonis mentioned. “That’s why I’m enthusiastic about the summer. We intend to unite as a collective and lay the groundwork early on, even before the commencement of the training camp.”
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