Warriors’ Steph Curry not expecting to return to Game 5

Golden State Warriors talisman Steph Curry is not expecting to return to Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against Minnesota Timberwolves. Curry was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain after suffering an injury in the second quarter of the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He will be re-evaluated Wednesday, the day of Game 5.

“Even if I wanted to be Superman, I couldn’t,” Curry told Andscape J. Marc. Spears, referring to his hamstring injury.

The Warriors are down 3-1 in the series and the remaining matches will be all must-win contests for them. That they will be without the services of their superstar, will make their job even tougher.

The Warriors lost Game 4, 117-110 against the Wolves and they would need to bounce back strongly.

“No, we’re not going to Superman this thing,” Green said when asked if he expects Curry to try to push to come back, and if so, would he be a part of that conversation. “If he’s in a place where he can play, I’m sure he will. Him and Rick [Celebrini, Warriors VP of player health and performance] and everybody will figure that out. But we don’t need [Curry to try to be] Superman.

“Gotta play the long game. If he can, we know he will. But there’s no pressure. We’ve got to figure out how to win whether he plays or not.”

If the Warriors win Game 5, it will give Curry another three days of recovery before a potential Game 6 on Sunday at Chase Center.

The Warriors were outscored 39-17 in the third quarter in the fourth game of the series and Draymond Green revealed Jimmy Butler was ill.

“We obviously need him shooting the ball,” Green said. “But their defense, they were collapsing on him today. So we tried to pick up that slack. But I know he’s not feeling well. Been pretty crappy all day. That also affects the energy as well. No excuses made here.

“I think that’s on me. I’ve got to find a way to get him into more positions to score. I think tonight I was just trying to get him the ball, and I don’t think I got him the ball in good spots, which then allowed the defense to load up on him. So I’ve got to do a better job of getting him the ball in better spots to where it’s not as easy for the defense to key on him.”

The fifth game of the series will be played on Wednesday.