Stephen Curry will return to starting lineup against Pelicans in Game 3

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said two-time MVP Stephen Curry will start Friday's Game 3 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Curry, returning from a knee injury, came off the bench in his playoff debut Tuesday, scoring 28 points in the Warriors' 121-116 win over the Pelicans.

"Oh yeah, yeah, he'll start Game 3," Kerr said Wednesday on 95.7 The Game. "You don't keep a guy like that on the bench for long. ... He'll be in the starting lineup."

Curry suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on March 23 and missed 15 games, including the first round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.

He tried convincing the team's medical staff to clear him for Game 1 against the Pelicans on Saturday, but they opted for a little more time.

Tuesday night, Curry entered the game with 4:20 left in the opening quarter. After only 11 seconds, Curry came off a flare screen and swished a left-wing 3. The sold-out crowd erupted with cheers and applause.

"I would say it played out as I expected," Kerr said after the game. "I knew I would play him more than what we planned. I think we planned on 24 [minutes] and he got to 27, but he was Steph. He didn't take long to warm up, that's for sure."

Golden State is up 2-0 in the series, which shifts to New Orleans for Games 3 and 4.