Dub Hub: Steve Kerr explains why Pelicans matchup is the ‘biggest game of the year’

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, March 28th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr calls Friday’s game against the Pelicans the “biggest game of the year.”
• Gary Payton II suffers partially torn ligament in his left thumb.
• Bulls overcome 5-point deficit with 10 seconds left to beat the Lakers 119-117.

The Golden State Warriors suffered a tough 112-86 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, falling to 0-2 on their current six-game road trip. With just 10 games left in the regular season, the Warriors (41-31) are now tied with the Los Angeles Clippers (41-31) for the sixth seed in the Western Conference (Los Angeles owns the tie-breaker), making every game down the stretch crucial for playoff positioning.

Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t mince words after the loss, emphasizing the importance of getting back on track in their next matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

The Warriors should also get a major boost Friday as Steph Curry is trending toward making his return after a two-game absence due to a pelvic contusion. His presence would be vital for Golden State as they look to regain momentum amidst a tight playoff race down the stretch of the regular season.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, March 28th:

Warriors News:

Warriors optimistic Stephen Curry will return vs. Pelicans | ESPN

Coach Steve Kerr said the Warriors scrimmaged for six minutes and that Curry participated and looked good. Curry also went through an individual workout after practice, and the team will see how he feels Friday.

“He looked really good,” Kerr said. “He is going to go through his individual workout like he did the other day. That is where he can really feel and test certain things.

“I am optimistic [he will return Friday].”

Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and the bond that stabilized the Warriors | ESPN

Butler says he and Green have heard much of the same criticism.

“We got a lot in common with kids, our love for basketball,” Butler said. “Small town individuals that happen to end up on a big-time college basketball squad, late draft picks that have overcome everything to become who they are today. That’s what those conversations are and I just appreciate it. I shed grace on everybody that just wants to sit here and s--- on Jimmy Butler III and talk. But it’s because you don’t know what I’m doing. Nobody does.

“[And] Draymond ain’t no f---ing a—hole. I knew it though. ... It’s like, ‘Bro, nah, you just a winner. You’re a truth teller.’ And people don’t like that.”

Warriors’ GP2 suffered partial tear of left thumb ligament | NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors also announced Payton will not play in Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and will be re-evaluated in one week.

Payton is an integral player in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations, and in 58 games this season, is averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 58.5-percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range in 14.9 minutes off the bench.

Gary Payton II gets shots up while wearing a brace for his injured left thumb

Adam Silver admits NBA All-Star format was ‘a miss’; gives no timeline on expansion | The Athletic

Silver admitted that the NBA’s latest attempt at a new format for the All-Star Game in February was not a success. The league created a tournament with the All-Stars split into three different teams and another team made up of the winners of the Rising Stars Game. It led to complaints about not only the format but the way that the night was staged, and Silver admitted the breaks between games were too long.

“It was a miss,” Silver said. “We’re not there in terms of creating an All-Star experience that we can be proud of and that our players can be proud of.”

NBA News:

Bulls’ Josh Giddey hits half court buzzer beater to beat the Lakers, 119-117

NBA, FIBA move forward on exploration of new professional men’s basketball league in Europe | NBA

Under the plan being explored, the new league would be integrated into the current European basketball landscape, with teams also participating in their respective national leagues. In addition to permanent teams, the league would offer clubs a merit-based pathway to qualification through the European basketball ecosystem.

As part of a new league, the NBA and FIBA would also plan to dedicate financial support and resources to the continued development of Europe’s basketball ecosystem, including club team academies and the NBA and FIBA’s existing programs to develop aspiring players, coaches and referees at all levels of the game.

Pacers score franchise-record 162 points in Thursday’s win vs. Wizards

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

The Warriors have fallen to the 7th seed in the west

Due to a Los Angeles Clippers win on March 26th, the Warriors have been pushed to the seventh seed in the west, putting them in the play-in tournament. They are currently matched up against the eighth-seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Warriors have beaten the Timberwolves in three out of four of their matchups this season, with their only loss coming in December

A tweet to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.