The Bay Area can breathe a sigh of relief, for now. A day after Stephen Curry limped off the floor with a sprained ankle at Sunday's open practice, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters that Curry will play in Wednesday's season opener against the Lakers.
"I'm always concerned when Steph limps off," Kerr said Monday. "But I went down and checked on him, and he told me immediately he was fine."
The sight brought audible shock to thousands at Chase Center Sunday, as Curry appeared to slip and roll his ankle before hobbling directly off the floor and straight to the locker room. Kerr, though, repeated after Sunday's practice that Curry was "fine," and said the Warriors star went through a full practice Monday.
How much he'll actually play in Los Angeles Wednesday, now, is the question. Golden State has taken a specifically conservative approach to ramping Curry up this preseason after last year's knee troubles, as Kerr has previously indicated Curry could start the season playing below 32 minutes a game.
The Warriors, too, may be shorthanded beyond Curry for Wednesday's opener. Guard Brandin Podziemski didn't practice Sunday or Monday with lower-back soreness, and Kerr termed him day-to-day. That could leave Golden State down a second starter against Los Angeles, as they already navigate the continued indefinite absence of center Kristaps Porzingis.
There still has been no concrete timeline from Golden State for Porzingis's return after last week's remarkably public tweets making clear he's still working to recover from ongoing health issues. Kerr said the 31-year-old Porzingis won't travel with the Warriors to Los Angeles, and continued to emphasize his focus on Golden State's active roster when asked Monday about approaching communication with Porzingis.
"I spoke to him a couple days ago," Kerr said. "We've texted, over the last couple of weeks. Other than my concern for him and his own well-being, I don't think of it – when we come to practice, I don't think of it, because I have to focus on the guys who are here.
"And that's my concern, when we come into the building, is – how are we going to play? How are we going to start? Who's going to back up the 5s, if Al (Horford) doesn't play? Does Graham (Ike) play? Do we use one of the two-way games that he has?"
On that note, Golden State could also be down a key reserve in center Charles Bassey against Los Angeles, as the 25-year-old big continues to deal with knee tendonitis. That would stretch an already-thin frontcourt rotation, and hand increased responsibilities to Draymond Green, 40-year-old Al Horford and rookie Ike.
The Warriors, too, could test rookie Yaxel Lendeborg again for stretches as a small-ball center, a look with plenty of offensive potential but which proved a defensive adventure against the Lakers in last week's preseason matchup in Las Vegas. Lendeborg, though, has impressed Golden State enough for Kerr to confirm Monday he'll be an opening-night starter against the Lakers.
"As a rookie, there's an indoctrination that has to happen," Kerr said. "But he's really talented, and great kid, and I'm excited for everything that's ahead of him in the next 12 to 14 years, however long he plays."
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Warriors' Steph Curry will play vs. Lakers Wednesday, but Golden State managing other injuries.