Steph Curry ‘hoping’ he’ll play Game 1 of playoffs Saturday

SAN FRANCISCO — Saturday could mark the reunion of the Warriors championship core, with Stephen Curry on track to be available for Game 1 of the playoffs barring any setbacks.

Curry played 18 minutes — divided into three six-minute segments — in the Warriors’ scrimmage Thursday, and there’s a growing belief that the superstar guard will be available Saturday, though he’ll play under a minutes restriction.

“Everything about it was awesome,” Curry said of the team’s scrimmage. “Every step has been in the right direction in terms of trying to get back out there. I’ve never enjoyed practice so much.”

Curry, who participated in the team’s first postseason practice without any modifications Wednesday, said he’s “hoping” he’ll be cleared for the first game of the best-of-seven series against the Denver Nuggets. He’s not quite at 100% after suffering a sprained ligament and bone bruise in his left foot month and is still experiencing some mild “pain or discomfort.”

Curry believes he’s far enough along in the recovery process, where the bone bruise, an injury the team revealed just this week that cna tend to cause lingering discomfort, won’t be a major issue.

“Hopefully I’m passed that hurdle,” Curry said. “Hopefully by Saturday, I can kind of put it behind me.”

There are bound to be challenges for any player coming back from an injury that kept them out for several weeks, but the Warriors aren’t too worried about Curry, who has a track record of rebounding rather quickly from injuries especially around playoff times. Neither is Curry, who said he has “high confidence” he can return to his previous form.

“There’s no real concern I’ll be a step slower, I’ll be out there exhausted in the first two or three minutes whenever you do get back because I have been through it, I know the work that goes into it,” said Curry, who suffered knee sprains that sidelined him for parts of the 2016 and 2018 playoffs. “I can push myself once I get that green light to get back on the floor.”

Added coach Steve Kerr, “He’s such a diligent worker, he’s been working so hard on his conditioning and his rhythm the last couple of weeks. His conditioning looks good, I’d be more concerned about just timing. Anybody you have an absence you got to shake off some cobwebs and I think we’ll just take it day at a time and see where it all goes.”

If Curry is available Saturday, his minutes will be restricted, though he and Kerr said those conversations remain ongoing.

“I’m not worried about it being a limiting factor in terms of how I’m going to approach the game,” said Curry, who’s going to push for more playing time if he feels good. “Hopefully there’s a little wiggle room with whatever that is to see how I feel out there.”