Warriors
The Warriors got a scare Sunday when Stephen Curry slipped during an open-practice scrimmage and limped off the court. The initial assessment offered some relief.
Curry was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Steve Kerr said he expects Curry to be “fine,” and a team source told ESPN’s Anthony Slater the injury was “not serious.”
That doesn’t settle Curry’s availability for Wednesday’s opener. The Warriors haven’t announced a recovery timetable or specified the severity of the sprain.
“Of course we were scared,” Gui Santos said. “We were definitely worried. … The way that I saw him walking off the court, I didn’t think it was something really bad.”
Golden State is already preparing to begin the season without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis. Losing Curry for any stretch would put even more pressure on a roster trying to get through the early schedule without several major contributors.
The encouraging part is that the injury involves his ankle rather than the knee that troubled him last season. The Warriors will still need to see how it responds before determining his status.
Suns
The Suns have made another long-term commitment to their frontcourt, agreeing to a three-year, $29 million extension with Oso Ighodaro.
The deal is fully guaranteed, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko. As part of the agreement, Phoenix is exercising Ighodaro’s $2.5 million option for 2027-28, meaning the extension begins in 2028-29 and runs through 2030-31, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.
Ighodaro, 24, averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22 minutes last season, shooting 65.3 percent from the field. He also started all four of Phoenix’s playoff games, averaging 7.5 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
His role could grow considerably this season. Mark Williams is expected to miss significant time following shoulder surgery, leaving Ighodaro and second-year center Khaman Maluach competing for the starting job.
The extension gives Phoenix some certainty at a position where health has complicated its plans. Ighodaro’s passing and defensive versatility have already earned him minutes, and the Suns are betting he can build on that.
Mavericks
The Mavericks still don’t know whether Santi Aldama will be available for Wednesday’s opener against the Rockets.
Coach Dusty May said he “doesn’t know yet” if Aldama can play, according to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News. Aldama remains without a return timetable following the arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in March.
Dallas expects him to be an important reserve, with his shooting and ability to create offense offering a different look alongside its other big men. But injuries to Aldama and Dereck Lively II have kept the Mavericks from getting a full look at their frontcourt options.
Those absences also add significance to the final roster decision. Veteran Dwight Powell and young shot-blocker Moussa Cisse remain candidates for the last spot, with Dallas weighing experience against developmental upside while already short on healthy big men.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
