Warriors' Stephen Curry diagnosed with seasonal flu, misses game

ByNick Friedell ESPN logo
Sunday, March 8, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry did not play in Saturday's 118-114 home win against the Philadelphia 76ersafter being diagnosed with seasonal flu. The news came two days after he returned from a 58-game absence.

The Warriors said in a statement that Curry has "no specific risk factors for COVID-19. He has the seasonal flu."

"I was with Steph [on Friday] in practice and also in Oakland yesterday afternoon, and he was fine," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. "So he woke up this morning feeling sick. I know his young son was sick for a couple of days, so he probably got it from his son, but our doctors checked him out, and it is the basic flu."

Curry's latest setback stunts the momentum the Warriors were hoping to build after he returned to the lineup. Kerr noted that growing fear surrounding the coronavirus was something he and his team have talked about together in recent days.

"It's absolutely a concern," Kerr said. "Like everybody else, I'm reading about it. It's something that our players and I have all talked about. We had our team doctor come in and address us a few days ago. So I'm no expert; I'm just like everybody else, just trying to learn about it. And it's a concern, but we're doing our job to come in and get ready for the game and play the game, and the league will tell us what will be next."

Kerr said after Friday's practice that Curry was a "good sore" after playing 27 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Toronto Raptors and participating in a workout with the Warriors. Curry scored 23 points in his first game since October, when he broke his left hand and needed two surgeries.

In other injury-related news, the Warriors announced center Kevon Looney, who has missed four straight games, will miss at least the next three weeks as he continues to recover from a left hip injury. Looney's season has been marred by various injuries, but Kerr said the organization has not considered shutting him down for the year yet.

"He's going to be out for a few weeks, and so it is a concern," Kerr said. "We want to give him every opportunity to finish the season and go into the summer with some momentum. Most disappointed for Loon, because he's found some momentum and finally kind of been able to put some games together. So it's a setback for him, but [Warriors director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini] feels like this is the best course of action for him."

As for veteran forward Draymond Green, he missed his fifth straight game because of left knee soreness, but Kerr said Green will get a workout in on Saturday night and the Warriors are optimistic he will be able to play Tuesday against the LA Clippers.

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