Pacific Notes: Lue, Curry, Jackson, Westbrook, Allen
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was the head coach of the Cavaliers in three of Cleveland’s matchups with the Warriors in the Finals. He now must face Golden State and Stephen Curry again in the play-in tournament on Wednesday. The losing team in the No. 9 vs. 10 matchup will see its season end.
“I’m sick of it,” Lue said playfully when asked about facing Curry again in the postseason. “He’s just a guy that can explode. He can score 50 if you’re not careful. He only had 24 last game, but he had nine three-point attempts. We can’t let him get that many attempts up from the three-point line. We gotta try to keep him down as much as possible… We gotta be locked in to what we’re trying to do defensively.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Clippers could have big man Isaiah Jackson — out since March 27 due to an ankle injury — available for the play-in game against the Warriors. He played 5-on-5 on Monday and practiced on Tuesday, Law Murray of The Athletic reports, and is listed as questionable (Twitter links). Jackson averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game in 15 appearances off the bench last month.
- Russell Westbrook wouldn’t mind staying put with the Kings, Sean Cunningham of KCRA News tweets. “If I’m welcomed back, then I’ll be back,” Westbrook said. The veteran guard was on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract this season. Playing for his seventh team, Westbrook, 37, averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 64 games.
- Suns wing Grayson Allen isn’t active for Tuesday’s play-in tournament game against Portland due to left hamstring soreness, the team tweets. Allen, who suffered the injury last Friday against the Lakers, averaged 16.5 points per game this season, the fourth-best mark on the team. It’s unclear if he’d be available for a second play-in game this Friday or Game 1 of a playoff series on Sunday.
Warriors Notes: Kerr, Curry, Porzingis, Horford, Green
There’s still no clarity on Steve Kerr‘s future with the Warriors, Nick Friedell of The Athletic reports. Kerr has put off talk of another contract until after the season.
A team source told Friedell that nothing had changed in that regard. Kerr signed a two-year, $35MM extension in 2024 that expires after this season. Golden State, seeded 10th, needs to win two games to advance through the play-in tournament.
However, Kerr’s preference is to stay put. He’d like to continue to coach the Warriors and Stephen Curry despite a very trying season. Draymond Green says the front office and ownership won’t find a better coach than the one they already have.
“I think oftentimes in this league, everybody is always looking at the other side thinking it’s greener,” Green said, per Florito Maniego of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Then, when they get on the other side, they realize all the grass is brown, and it’s dead. And there’s no sprinkler system, and the sun doesn’t rise on that side, it only sets on that side. Then, everybody wants to look back, like, ‘Oh, man.’ Now you start this cycle of [hiring] four coaches in four years. You start this cycle of six coaches over eight years.
“The Warriors have been through that cycle, and nobody is trying to go through that again. So, as long as we have Steve Kerr wanting to coach this team, you’re not going to go and find a better coach, so that’s not a worry of mine or anybody in this organization.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- They are in a do-or-die situation in Wednesday’s play-in tournament contest with the Clippers. However, Kerr must remain mindful of how much he can use some of his regulars. Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will all play fewer than 40 minutes in the must-win game, according to ESPN. All three missed chunks of time during the second half of the season due to injuries or illness. ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link) notes that Curry has played 26, 25, 27 and 29 minutes in his four games back from his knee injury. Slater projects that something in the range of 34 minutes will likely be Curry’s cap on Wednesday.
- Curry remains optimistic that the Warriors can extend their season, according to Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. “I love playing basketball,” he said. “It’s what I get paid to do. … Our season’s been different than we expected, but the fact that there is something to still play for gives all of us a lot of confidence down the stretch to make something out it, and I want to be a part of that.”
- Green may not be the defensive force he once was, but he’s still the team’s anchor in that department, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic notes. Green appeared in 68 games and was a steadying influence on a team often playing shorthanded. “You gotta be locked in, number one,” he said. “I think these will be very detailed game plans. The guys you want shooting, you’ve got to have them shooting. You’ve gotta stay locked in on your defensive responsibility. You can’t have defensive lapses. There’s just no space for defensive lapses in playoff games, man. So I think it’s a matter of everybody understanding what the game plan is and accomplishing it.”
Numerous Teams Considering Coaching Changes
The NBA’s coaching carousel has already started spinning with Doc Rivers‘ decision to step down from the Bucks, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype suggests it could be an active offseason throughout the league on that front.
Milwaukee has a potential replacement on hand in lead assistant Darvin Ham, but sources tell Scotto the Pelicans could also have interest in Ham if they decide not to retain interim head coach James Borrego, echoing recent reporting from Jake Fischer.
Former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins may be the top name on the market and is expected to draw interest from the Bucks, Scotto confirms. Jenkins previously served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee.
Scotto states that Borrego could also emerge as a candidate for the Bucks if New Orleans decides to move on, noting that he interviewed with the organization before it hired Adrian Griffin in 2023.
Scotto shares more coaching and front office rumors from around the NBA:
- The Bulls are hoping to hold onto coach Billy Donovan after upending their front office last week. Scotto believes Donovan may have some interest in taking over the Magic if they decide to fire Jamahl Mosley, pointing out that Orlando hired Donovan in 2007 before he changed his mind a few days later and decided to remain at Florida. Scotto cites Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd as a potential front office addition in Chicago, noting that Lloyd began his career with the Bulls. He also points to CAA’s Austin Brown as a possibility if the organization wants to make a run at one of the top agents in the business.
- Jenkins and Tom Thibodeau could also be options for the Magic if they make a coaching move, according to Scotto. Borrego, a former assistant in Orlando, may emerge as another possibility. Sources tell Scotto that Michael Malone had been considered throughout the league as a potential candidate for the Magic before he accepted a job with North Carolina.
- The Pelicans will consider keeping Borrego, but sources tell Scotto that Ham and Kevin Ollie will also be in the mix, while Mosley has “several admirers” in New Orleans and could be among the leading candidates for the position if he becomes available. Scotto also points out that Ham worked with Pelicans executive vice president of basketball 0perations Joe Dumars for two years in Detroit, while Ollie interviewed for the head coaching job when New Orleans general manager Troy Weaver was running the Pistons.
- Steve Kerr and the Warriors will discuss their future this summer, Scotto hears. Stephen Curry remains a huge advocate for Kerr and wants them to finish their careers together, but Kerr is the league’s highest-paid coach and there are concerns about burn-out after a difficult season.
- Interim head coach Tiago Splitter will be a candidate to remain with the Trail Blazers after leading the team to the eighth seed in the West, but several top assistant coaches throughout the league and some college coaches will also be considered, sources tell Scotto.
- Wizards coach Brian Keefe still has strong support from his front office, but Scotto’s sources say his future is “undecided” as the organization hopes to transform into a playoff contender next season.
- The Hawks‘ late-season surge could result in an extension for coach Quin Snyder, according to Scotto.
Injury Notes: Wembanyama, Leonard, Curry, James, Highsmith
Two days after meeting the 65-game criteria, Victor Wembanyama is out for the Spurs‘ season finale against the Nuggets on Sunday.
“He’s doing well but just a little sore and felt it was the appropriate decision,” said head coach Mitch Johnson, per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
Wembanyama is dealing with a sore rib cage following a collision with the Sixers’ Paul George on Wednesday.
“I think he’s the strongest, the best in shape he’s been since I’ve been around,” Johnson said. “But, yeah, I think he’s fought through some games just in terms of, not injury, I’m talking about just physicality, the toll of a really competitive high-level game.”
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will suit up tonight, per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss (via Twitter), as he needs to play at least in 15 minutes in order to reach the 65-game threshold and become award-eligible.
We have more injury news from around the NBA:
- Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for the Clippers as they face off against the Warriors in their season finale. Head coach Ty Lue said of his star forward that he “has been dealing with some things with his wrist and ankle the last couple weeks,” per Mark Medina of Essentially Sports (via Twitter). Leonard recently hit the 65-game mark, making him eligible for end-of-season awards.
- Stephen Curry will start for the Warriors against the Clippers on Sunday, and head coach Steve Kerr hopes to get him up to around 30 minutes played, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports (Twitter link). Curry has played between 25 and 27 minutes in each of his three games since returning from his extended absence due to a knee injury.
- LeBron James will play for the Lakers on Sunday against the Jazz, Dave McMenamin of ESPN notes (via Twitter), adding that, according to coach JJ Redick, no Laker is expected to play more than low-30s in terms of minutes, including Marcus Smart, who will be on a minutes restriction. Redick wants to try to “control what they can control” by going for the win against Utah, McMenamin writes (Twitter link).
- Haywood Highsmith will play for the Suns tonight after being out since March 17 with right knee injury management, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic notes (Twitter link). “I think that’s what he was shooting for this whole time, just to get back and be available, credit to him,” said head coach Jordan Ott. “He’s had a season where he’s been off the court a ton, and when he’s been on the court for us he’s been super helpful. So excited to see him go back out there and be available.“
Warriors Notes: Curry, Starting Five, Cryer, Moody
Star guard Stephen Curry passed Tim Duncan in total career points on Friday, moving into 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (Twitter link). However, that was one of the rare bright spots in an underwhelming showing from the Warriors, who were beaten 124-118 by the Kings in Sacramento to drop to 37-44 on the season.
In addition to losing to a lottery-bound team, Golden State also got an injury scare when Curry turned his right ankle in the first half of the game and limped off the court. But he was able to return to action and ended up playing 27 minutes, his highest total since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for two months.
While the two-time MVP didn’t have a great night, scoring just 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, head coach Steve Kerr said after the game that the ankle won’t be an issue going forward (Twitter video link via Anthony Slater of ESPN). According to Kerr, even though Golden State is locked into the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference standings entering the play-in tournament, Curry will play on Sunday vs. the Clippers. The veteran guard’s health is the team’s top concern, but getting him into a rhythm following a long injury layoff is important too, Kerr told reporters.
For his part, Curry said he’s hoping to play his “normal minutes” on Sunday, which could mean bumping him up to 32 or more, Slater notes (Twitter video link).
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Curry started alongside Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis on Friday vs. Sacramento. It was the first time this season that those five players started together, but Kerr sounded enthusiastic about using that starting five during next week’s play-in game(s), referring to it as “enticing” and noting that the lineup features a good amount of versatility, ball-handling, and shooting (Twitter link via Slater). Although Golden State lost on Friday, that group outscored the Kings by a score of 29-16 in just over eight minutes together and Podziemski scored a career-high 30 points.
- Warriors two-way guard LJ Cryer appeared to be in a lot of pain when he injured his right ankle during Thursday’s game vs. the Lakers and had to be helped off the court (Twitter video link via NBC Sports Bay Area). Fortunately, he seems to have avoided a serious injury. The team announced on Friday (via Twitter) that Cryer has been diagnosed with a mild ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in one week. He won’t be playoff-eligible on his two-way deal, so his season is almost certainly over, but his contract covers the 2026/27 season too.
- Warriors wing Moses Moody spoke to reporters on Friday for the first time since being diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon last month. According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic (Twitter link), Moody was in “good spirits” and expressed confidence about his ability to recover and return to his previous level of play. He has been in contact with Warriors broadcaster Kelenna Azubuike, who sustained the same injury during his own playing career.
Warriors Notes: Horford, Porzingis, Curry Brothers, Bassey
Veteran big man Al Horford, who is recovering from a right soleus (calf) strain, will miss his 14th consecutive game on Thursday. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Horford went through a 5-on-5 scrimmage on Wednesday and is optimistic the 39-year-old will be active for Friday’s game vs. Sacramento, as Nick Friedell of The Athletic tweets.
Golden State’s longtime coach is also hopeful Kristaps Porzingis (general illness injury management, right knee soreness) will return to action on Friday. Porzingis was out Tuesday and will miss Thursday’s matchup with the Lakers as well.
As for Stephen Curry, Kerr said the star guard is doing well and will play Friday, Friedell adds (via Twitter).
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Curry and Porzingis were only able to play nine minutes together during Sunday’s loss to Houston, partly because Porzingis fouled out after 23 minutes. Seeing how the two players fit together will be critical ahead of Porzingis’ impending free agency, writes Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard. “I thought we have a lot more to prove out there,” Curry said. “I know he was in foul trouble all night. But there were a couple possessions — they tried to blitz me, get somebody in the pocket, KP’s spacing the floor, the defense has to make a decision. So, more of those reps will be great, not just for me and him, but for all of us to continue to build chemistry.”
- Curry and his younger brother Seth Curry finally shared the court together on Sunday for the first time in an injury-plagued season for both players, according to Friedell of The Athletic. Steph, who called it a “special” day, said it was the first time they’d played together since high school. “It’s a dream come true,” Seth said. “We’ve played against each other for a while now. For us to be on the same floor together as teammates was a different dynamic, and I’m sure everybody was watching on the East Coast — (our mother) was over there sneaking pictures when we were both in the hall trying to get loose. She was really excited.”
- Fifth-year center Charles Bassey earned praise from Kerr and Draymond Green after just two games with the team, per Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. The Nigerian big man finished Tuesday’s win with 14 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks and was plus-nine in 27 minutes. “It means a lot, man, to have this opportunity,” Bassey told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’m just trying to use this because, you never know when your chance will come. It means a lot just being here. They gave me this opportunity, and it means a lot to me, my family and the team.”
Injury Notes: Curry, Brown, J. Green, Goodwin, Powell, Hall
The Warriors have ruled out star guard Stephen Curry for Thursday’s game against the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Curry returned earlier this week from a knee injury after sitting out for over two months, so Golden State is taking a cautious approach with its leading scorer and most valuable player. Slater had reported on Wednesday that the 38-year-old would likely be held out of one end of the team’s back-to-back set on Thursday and Friday. The fact that Curry is missing Thursday’s game means he should be back in action on Friday vs. Sacramento.
It also means that Curry and Lakers star LeBron James won’t face each other at all this season. James missed the first meeting between the two teams in the fall while dealing with sciatica and Curry missed the next two as a result of his knee injury.
We have more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed in the East with one more win, but they won’t be at full strength as they look to pick up that victory in New York on Thursday. Star wing Jaylen Brown will miss the game due to left Achilles tendinitis, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s the first game of a back-to-back set for Boston, though it remains to be seen whether Brown will be back in action on Friday vs. New Orleans.
- Jalen Green suffered a right leg injury early in the first quarter of Wednesday’s win over Dallas and did not return, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The former No. 2 overall pick wore a sleeve at halftime and warmed up to see how he was feeling prior to being ruled out. Fellow Suns guard Jordan Goodwin also exited Wednesday’s game due to a left ankle injury, which he suffered in the second quarter, Rankin adds.
- Although Heat wing Norman Powell said after shootaround on Thursday morning that he’s “feeling good” and will be active for tonight’s game in Toronto, he admitted his nagging right groin injury will likely linger until he gets an extended break for it to heal in the offseason, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “When you have muscle strains and things like that, you can rehab and everything. But it takes time,” Powell said. “You just need rest, and I just feel like I need rest. I need time to let the body do what it needs to do. But even though I can get it to a certain point where it feels good, there’s no pain and everything, it doesn’t mean that it’s 100% healed. So then over time, an accumulated amount of stress on that area, then it starts to flare back up.”
- Second-year big man PJ Hall underwent surgery to address his right ankle fracture, the Hornets announced in a press release. The former Clemson star, who suffered the injury in the first round of the G League playoffs with the Greensboro Swarm, will miss the rest of the 2025/26 season.
Rory Maher contributed to this story.
Injury Notes: Wembanyama, Cunningham, Curry, Tatum
Victor Wembanyama‘s status for the Spurs‘ penultimate game of the season remains up in the air as he works his way back from a rib injury, Tom Orsborn writes for the San Antonio-Express News.
The MVP candidate was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Blazers, but the team is confident that Wembanyama will play at least 20 minutes in one of their two remaining games so that he will be eligible for end-of-season awards. He is considered the strong favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year.
“He’s improved quite a bit, so I don’t think it’s a long-term concern, but we’ll obviously be very cautious in the situation and circumstances we’re under,” coach Mitch Johnson said.
With the star big man’s health the priority heading into the playoffs, it’s unclear if Johnson would simply play him the minimum required minutes to hit his eligibility or if he would receive a normal workload.
We have more injury notes from around the league:
- Cade Cunningham returned from the collapsed lung that kept him out for 11 games on Wednesday, contributing 13 points and 10 assists in nearly 26 minutes as the Pistons beat the Bucks. After the game, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that Cunningham’s playing time for the rest of the season will depend on how he feels, according to The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson (via Twitter). It’s unclear whether he will suit up for their game against the Hornets on Thursday. For his part, Cunningham said that this was a new experience for him that he’s still figuring out how to deal with, per Patterson (Twitter video link). “It was different than any injury I’ve ever had as far as how it progressed initially,” Cunningham said. “From whenever I got hit to how I felt immediately to how I started to feel as time went on. Thanks to all the staff and medical that was around and helped.”
- While Stephen Curry was supposed to be on a minutes restriction in his Monday night return from a prolonged absence due to a knee injury, he exceeded the expected playing time, scoring 29 points in 26 minutes. With the Warriors playing three times in the final four days of the regular season, Curry will likely sit out either Thursday or Friday, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports (Twitter video link). Slater speculates that Curry will miss Friday’s matchup with the Kings as he looks to get back to as close to 100% as possible before the Warriors try to win two play-in games to advance to the playoffs.
- Jayson Tatum will return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since rupturing his Achilles there in last year’s playoffs, and once again it will be in a crucial game for the Knicks, Jared Schwartz writes for the New York Post. A Celtics win will seal their hold on the second seed, while the Knicks are fighting off the Cavaliers, who are looking to seize the third seed. Tatum admitted that the experience will likely bring up some complicated feelings. “I’m not, like, thrilled to go back and play there,” he said. “Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me. Obviously, I knew at some point I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday. But it’s not like I’m thrilled about it. But it’s part of it.”
Stephen Curry Provides Hope For Warriors In Thrilling Return
Outside of the wrap he wore on his right knee, there was little indication that Stephen Curry had missed 27 straight games as he made his return Sunday night at Chase Center. The Warriors star thrilled the home crowd with 29 points in 26 minutes, nailing outrageous three-pointers, showing a burst on drives to the basket and nearly leading the team to a comeback victory vs. Houston, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
“You can hear it with the crowd, and there’s a different energy in the building, and there’s a different confidence with our team,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He just infuses the whole team with confidence. Being able to play off him makes the game much easier for everyone else. There is a momentum, a confidence. He’s Steph Curry for a reason.”
Curry came off the bench for the first time since the 2011/12 season as Kerr eased him back into action. His first appearance came with 4:54 left in the first quarter, and fans responded with a 45-second ovation. There were a few signs of rust before he got on the board with a three-pointer from the left wing with 34.1 seconds remaining in the quarter.
“The first (quarter) was tough, the second one was great,” Curry said. “Second quarter, once I got my feet underneath me and obviously momentum carried all the work you put in, the rehab to get through even 26 minutes at that level, I was very grateful.”
From that point on, it was vintage Curry. He hit 5-of-10 shots from behind the arc and was 11-of-21 overall, along with four assists. The Rockets frequently threw double teams at him, but Curry was able to keep moving and create open looks. He hit a string of big shots in the fourth quarter, even breaking out his trademark shimmy after being knocked to the ground on an and-one, and nearly won the game with a 30-foot attempt over two defenders at the buzzer.
“There was a lot of nerves all day,” he said. “My family supported me at home, and I was a nervous wreck trying to pass the hours before I got to the arena. But once you get back into your routine, you’ve been doing it for so long, muscle memory takes over. And the adrenaline takes over. I appreciate the fans and the reception, just the buzz that was in the arena, because you know at that certain point you want to be able to tap into that. Very grateful. It was a beautiful day, and now I can kind of settle into how we’re going to finish the year.”
Curry’s return could dramatically change the equation for Golden State heading into the postseason. There were no signs of discomfort from the patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee) that had sidelined him since January 30, and he and the team remain hopeful that it won’t flare up again. At 36-42, the Warriors are on track to enter the postseason as the No. 10 seed, which means they’ll have to win two play-in games on the road just to get a shot at defending champ Oklahoma City in the playoffs, but Curry’s return gives them reason to believe they’ll be a tough out.
“We have two meaningful games, hopefully down the stretch,” Curry said, referring to the play-in tournament next week. “But this is meaningful basketball in the sense of preparing ourselves for that moment. It’s not like we can just sleepwalk through these last four games and not focus on details that will help us win a do-or-die game and then do it again.”
Stephen Curry Returns Vs. Rockets On Sunday
Stephen Curry has officially been cleared to return for the Warriors‘ game against the Rockets on Sunday night, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link).
Multiple reports this week identified Sunday as Curry’s target date as he ramped up his on-court work. The fact that he has been upgraded to be available indicates there were no setbacks during the final stages of his ramp-up process following a lengthy absence due to runner’s knee.
Curry recently spoke about the injury, saying that there was nothing structurally wrong with his knee but that a level of discomfort would likely be the “new normal” for him moving forward.
Curry has made 39 appearances for the Warriors so far this season, averaging 27.2 points per game, his best mark in three seasons. The Warriors are locked into a play-in spot as Curry looks to find his rhythm before the postseason begins.
As Spears notes (via Twitter), Curry will likely play short stretches and will aim to hit about 25 minutes in his first game since January 30. ESPN’s Anthony Slater adds (via Twitter) that Golden State has five games in eight days leading up to the play-in, so the team will look to manage his minutes accordingly.
Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area adds that Stephen’s Seth Curry is also listed as available for tonight’s game (Twitter link).
Draymond Green had a two-word response when he spoke about Steph’s return on his podcast, according to Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area: “Thank God.”