OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry partook in his first 5-on-5 scrimmage Friday since suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee March 23.
A day before the Warriors begin their second-round series with the New Orleans Pelicans, Curry said he is making significant progress toward a return soon.
"I'm getting there, for sure," Curry said after practice. "I've done a lot in the last two weeks, especially on my feet moving, getting back to movements that I expect to do in the games and try to build that tolerance and intensity. My knee feels pretty good. I don't have any pain with doing the things that I've been doing."
The sharpshooter is still listed as questionable for Game 1 on Saturday.
"He's definitely more excited that he's nearing a return," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Curry's scrimmage was blocked from the media's view by a blue curtain. Prior to that, he had participated in his second straight full day of practice.
The team's training staff wants to see how his body feels in the morning and then evaluate him after the morning shootaround before determining his status.
"I have confidence that I'll wake up tomorrow feeling good, and there's still another layer of conversations that need to happen about whether it's the right move to play tomorrow," Curry said. "But yeah, that's basically where it's at.
"... Once I get through all those checkpoints and have confidence in myself and my body, I'll be out there. Whether that's tomorrow night or Tuesday or beyond, that's the process."
Curry acknowledged there have been moments of frustration during his rehabilitation.
"I love playing basketball. That's what I love to do, and it sucks when you're not able to do that," Curry said. "So part of it is like the adrenaline rush and the excitement and anxiousness of inching closer, closer, closer to getting back on the floor. ... But that is the hardest part of dealing with injuries. People who don't love to play can kind of just get through it, but if you really love being out there and being with your teammates and playing basketball with the gift that I've been given to do, you've got to kind of keep your eyes on the [goal] and focus on that."
Golden State, for the most part, has struggled in his absence.
With Curry in the lineup this season, the Warriors went 41-10 while averaging 120.4 points per 100 possessions, which would be the best offensive rating over the past 20 seasons. With him off the floor, however, the Warriors were only 17-14 in the regular season and had an offensive efficiency that was right around the league average.
Although he is eager to rejoin his teammates in action after missing the past 15 games, Curry said he has to be wise about attempting to rush back. He said it's imperative that he doesn't come back prematurely.
"I'm trying to be smart about it," he said. "That's the biggest thing we're learning. My knee two years ago, and this year, and ankle stuff and all that. I want to be out there. Obviously, I'm competitive. I want to be out there for my teammates. When we're a full squad, we're tough to beat, and I want to be out there in the fray with my guys. That's what it's about."