The host Golden State Warriors hope to have Stephen Curry back in the lineup Sunday night when they get their first opportunity to exact revenge against the wounded Indiana Pacers, a team that has beaten them this season.
Curry has missed Golden State’s past two games — road losses to the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets — while battling an illness.
He is listed as questionable for the Sunday contest in San Francisco and likely will be a game-time decision, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr indicated Friday he was encouraged about the prospects of his star guard facing Indiana.
Curry had 24 points but shot just 8-for-23 overall from the field and 4-for-16 on 3-pointers when the Warriors were beaten 114-109 at Indiana on Nov. 1.
It was one of nine times the Warriors have allowed 107 or more points in 10 games this season, something that concerns defensive ace Draymond Green even more than Curry’s body temperature.
“Our defense (stinks) and we’re 5-5. They go hand in hand,” Green told reporters after a 129-104 loss at Denver on Friday. “It starts individually. Everybody must take the challenge of guarding their man, and then you build out from there.
“If you get beat, there’s help. But right now, we’re just relying on the help to beat everyone. When you don’t give effort, then help can’t get there.”
Despite playing without Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell, the Pacers got 25 or more points from three different starters in their earlier win over the Warriors. Point guard Quenton Jackson was especially effective, burning Golden State’s perimeter defense for 25 points and 10 assists.
That win was Indiana’s first of the season after five losses. The defending Eastern Conference champs have since lost three in a row, including 117-100 at Denver on Saturday night in the opener of a four-game trip to fall to 1-8.
The Pacers welcomed back Nembhard against the Nuggets after he had been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury on opening night. He was immediately thrust into 33 minutes of action, during which he totaled 22 points and six assists.
Nembhard was stepping into the spot vacated by Jackson, who suffered a hamstring injury Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson has been ruled out for the Pacers’ entire four-game trip.
To add another healthy body to the mix, Indiana signed veteran Monte Morris shortly before the flight to Denver. He had been unemployed to start the season because of a calf strain sustained in training camp.
Morris, who played for Denver, Washington, Detroit, Minnesota and Phoenix in the past four seasons, had three points, two rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes in his Pacers debut Saturday.
Before the game, the 30-year-old, up-tempo specialist predicted he’d enjoy a long-term relationship with Indiana.
“I think it’ll be good,” he told the media. “This is the first team I’ve been on a team in the league with pace that I’m used to.”
–Field Level Media
