Dub Hub: Steph Curry returns strong, says his ankle ‘feels fine’ in win vs. Wizards

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Tuesday, November 5th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry says his ankle “feels fine” after playing 24 minutes in Monday’s 125-112 win over the Wizards.
• Draymond Green discusses the improvements he’s seen from former Warrior Jordan Poole.
• Cavaliers defeat the Bucks 116-114 to advance to 8-0 this season.

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards on Monday night, 125-112, with the spotlight on Stephen Curry’s return to the starting lineup. Curry came back after missing three games due to an ankle injury but was placed on a minutes restriction by the team’s training staff. Nevertheless, he made a notable impact in his 24 minutes on the court, filling up the stat sheet with 24 points, including 4-of-9 from the three-point line, six assists, and three rebounds. Most importantly, Curry told reporters that his ankle “feels fine” after his first game back.

The Warriors managed to win all three games while Curry was sidelined, albeit against relatively weaker competition. Now, however, they’re about to embark on their toughest stretch of the season, facing a gauntlet of top-tier teams, including the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dallas Mavericks.

Their first challenge is on Wednesday night against the defending champion Celtics. Head coach Steve Kerr indicated that if Curry’s ankle responds well following Monday’s game, the minutes restriction will likely be lifted, positioning the Warriors to field a near full-strength lineup as they take on their first significant test of the season.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, November 5th:

Warriors News:

Steph Curry returns, takes cautious approach in Warriors’ win over Wizards | The Athletic

Curry targeted the Wizards game as a way to ease himself back into the lineup in a friendlier environment before the competition gets fiercer later this week. Lead medical decision-maker Rick Celebrini put him on a strict 24-minute restriction. Curry played the first six minutes, sat the next 12 and then returned for the final six minutes of the first half.

“I feel good,” Curry said. “It’s just still early in the year and you’re trying to build up the endurance. My ankle feels fine. You just don’t want to get in a position where you feel fatigued and put yourself in jeopardy.”

Curry spent much of his rest time either in the tunnel or on the outside of timeout huddles, cycling through various stretches and strength exercises to test his ankle and keep his body warm. To better pattern his minutes so he wouldn’t have an elongated rest, they didn’t start him in the second half, opting to use his two six-minute segments at the end of the third quarter and fourth quarter. Curry finished with 24 points in the Warriors’ 125-112 win.

Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr break down Warriors’ win vs. Wizards | NBC Sports BA

Steph reveals irrational fear he’d be Warriors’ ‘weak link’ in return | NBC Sports Bay Area

But like all good chefs, Curry wanted to make sure that coming back wouldn’t disrupt what has already been a good thing.

“They’ve been taking care of business the last three games in pretty solid fashion, so I didn’t want to be the weak link out there tonight and tried to come out and do my part,” Curry said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Postgame Live” show. “We’re vibing right now. We’re trying to continue to get better.

“We know we have a long way to go. But I think we’ve really established an identity defensively, how we’re trying to move the ball offensively and create good shots. Everybody’s pitching in, and it’s great to see.”

NBA Power Rankings: Edwards, Jokic face early struggles while Cavs climb | ESPN

5. Golden State Warriors

2024-25 record: 6-1

Previous ranking: 11

Next games: @ BOS (Nov. 6), @ CLE (Nov. 8), @ OKC (Nov. 10), vs. DAL (Nov. 12)

Despite losing Stephen Curry for three games, the Warriors remain incredibly solid with a winning record. Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga have provided Golden State with the supplemental scoring off the bench that it has lacked the past few years. But it’s not just the offense that has gotten the Warriors off to a strong start — their defense has been their anchor. The Warriors rank second in opponent field goal percentage in the paint (49.5%) and first in opponent effective field goal percentage on shots from outside the paint (44%). — Kendra Andrews

Draymond Green talks about Jordan Poole’s growth in his second year with the Wizards

NBA News:

Cavaliers match best start in franchise history at 8-0 | NBA

“We’ve won in so many different ways,” said Mitchell, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Cavs this summer. “That’s been more impressive to me than the eight wins, just how we’ve done it. We’ve had blowouts. We’ve had close games. We’ve come back. Every night it’s somebody new.”

Atkinson has been willing to go deep in his bench almost every game. Although he was missing starter Dean Wade and top reserve Caris LeVert against the Bucks because of injuries, he used 10 players, including rookie Luke Travers, who appeared in just his second game.

Anthony Davis aggravates foot injury as Lakers’ road woes continue | ESPN

“I’ll talk to my trainer and just kind of figure out what exactly is going on,” Davis said after the game. “I’ve been managing it since this summer, honestly, and my goal for every game is to be on the floor. And I just kind of landed directly on the spot that’s been killing me. So, we’ll figure it out.”

Davis has not been ruled out of the Lakers’ game at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday to conclude the trip, sources told ESPN. However, those sources cautioned, with the foot issue plaguing the All-Star big man from the end of last season through the Paris Olympics, it will be a day-to-day situation.

Ja Morant hits highlight 360 reverse lay-up vs. the Nets

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Newsflash: Steph Curry and Buddy Hield on the floor is instant offense for the Warriors

In this very young season, having Curry and Hield on the floor together is an easy button to press for the Warriors to generate instant offense. Per PBP Stats, the Warriors have scored a whopping 144.6 points per 100 possessions in the 34 minutes Curry and Hield have spent together on the floor — as opposed to 112.8 in the 45 minutes of Curry without Hield and 106.9 in the 118 minutes of Hield without Curry.

Despite Hield doing an admirable impression of Curry in actions that typically feature the superstar, there’s still nothing quite like Curry coming off of one or multiple screens, cultivating chaos and fear, and creating one of two scenarios:

1. Getting himself open for a look

2. Creating open looks for his teammates

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