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Reigning NBA Finals MVP Steph Curry has been ruled out by the Golden State Warriors tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers. Curry injured his left shoulder Wednesday in the Warriors’ loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The four-time NBA champ was substituted with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter. Despite playing just 30 minutes, he still led his team in scoring with 38 points and a team-high eight assists. It was such an unfortunate turn of events as Curry was red-hot from the field.
Curry scored 27 points in the first half and looked set to breach at least 40 for the game before the injury. The Warriors will be in a tough spot without their franchise player tonight, as they could also be without Draymond Green, who is listed as questionable.
Steph Curry is currently having a season that rivals his unanimous NBA MVP campaign. Losing him for at least a week will be a big blow to the Warriors' season, as they hold a 14-15 record.
Meanwhile, NBA superstar LeBron James is expected to play tonight when the LA Lakers host the Denver Nuggets. “King James” has been consistently on the Lakers’ injury report for the past two weeks due to a sore left foot or ankle.
He has mostly played when he’s designated as questionable and should be good to go against the Nuggets after a two-day break.
In the Lakers' last game, LeBron James played 43 minutes versus the Boston Celtics. He scored 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out nine assists. The four-time NBA MVP will lead the Lakers’ charge against the Warriors at home.
Unless something drastic happens during and after the Lakers’ shoot-around, James should be in uniform tonight.
Robert Williams III: Left knee surgery; Injured since the offseason
Robert Williams III could make his debut for the 2022-23 NBA season tonight when the Boston Celtics take on the Orlando Magic. Williams hasn’t played since the Finals back in June this year.
The Boston Celtics center was heavily anticipated to play on the road when the Celtics took on the LA Clippers and then the LA Lakers. He was still in street clothes for those games and was reportedly eager to start his campaign against the Magic.
Boston’s defense, with Williams anchoring it, was the best in the NBA last season. Without him, the Celtics faltered before slowly regaining their defensive identity. The Celtics have a 111.1 defensive rating and will be expected to hike their numbers with the return of Williams to the lineup.
Anthony Davis: Low back tightness; Injured since the pre-season
Anthony Davis’ back issue is something he previously admitted he was dealing with. He’s likely feeling much better now as he has become the LA Lakers’ Batman over LeBron James’ Robin.
Davis has been out this season for two reasons. One is a non-Covid related illness, and the other is the tightness in his back. AD hasn’t been clutching his back after almost every play for the Lakers, which has been a good sign for the team.
Davis has already been so good for over a month now that his name has started cropping up in MVP considerations. The LA Lakers are 1-4 over their last five games and will need Davis to be back in the lineup.
