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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry is in need of some rest, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is committed to ensuring his star player gets it.
Just two games after making history as the first individual in the NBA to surpass 4,000 three-pointers, and just three days following his 37th birthday, Curry faced difficulties finding his shooting rhythm in a 114-105 defeat to the shorthanded Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
“He’s worn out. For the past month, Steph has been incredible, really carrying the team,” Kerr remarked. “He’s fatigued, so we need to secure him some downtime. You can see that his energy is not the same right now.”
Curry ended the night with 20 points, shooting 6 for 21 overall and 4 for 14 from beyond the arc in nearly 36 minutes of play. He also contributed seven assists and four rebounds but was responsible for seven of the Warriors’ 20 turnovers, which allowed Denver to score 24 points.
“We do our best to alleviate some of the burden on him,” commented guard Gary Payton II. “He’s got a defender glued to him for 48 minutes every game. It’s no surprise he’s probably feeling a bit worn out.”
It remains uncertain whether Curry will take a break for the back-to-back game against Milwaukee at Chase Center on Tuesday night (10 ET, NBA TV).
Kerr intended to consult with Director of Sports Medicine and Performance Rick Celebrini to discuss future options.
On March 8, Curry became the 26th player to hit 25,000 career points, then made his 4,000th three-pointer on Thursday night against Sacramento, celebrating his birthday the following day.
The Warriors are presently engaged in a season-best seven-game homestand that wraps up against Toronto on Thursday.
Prior to the loss to the Nuggets, Golden State had won seven consecutive games and has a remarkable 14-2 record since Jimmy Butler, Curry’s new backcourt partner, made his debut on February 8.
Maintaining Curry’s health is crucial for the Warriors as they pursue a playoff spot.
“He’s feeling drained at the moment. We really need to think about giving him a game off to recharge, for both his sake and the team’s,” Kerr explained. “We’ll see what happens, but he’s clearly been fatigued in the last few games, so we need to figure out how to get his energy back.”
