Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Houston Rockets during Game 1 on Saturday.Kyle Terada
The Golden State Warriors are preparing to play without NBA MVP Stephen Curry for Game 2 of their playoff series against Houston as he nurses an ankle injury.
Even if they know he will beg and plead to play through any pain. As long as he can't make it worse, Curry insists it will be hard to keep him off the court Monday night.
"Oh, yeah, for sure," coach Steve Kerr said of Curry campaigning to play. "When Steph's out, our guys understand that he's not there to count on, so they have to execute. If they don't, we're just not going to score enough points."
Kerr called Curry's status questionable again Sunday, when the point guard didn't practise a day after hurting his right ankle late in the first half of a 104-78 win over the Rockets in the playoff opener.
"Steph is a warrior. If he can play, he's definitely going to be out there," centre Festus Ezeli said.
Curry was undergoing treatment on the ankle Sunday and unavailable for interviews.
If Curry can't play Monday night, Shaun Livingston will start in his place.
Curry landed awkwardly shortly before halftime Saturday.