All eyes will be on the stands when a future challenger to his throne will have an opportunity to scout Stephen Curry’s long-range shooting arsenal as the Golden State Warriors face the Indiana Pacers on Friday in Indianapolis.
Having beaten Sabrina Ionescu in a wildly popular NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis last year, Curry is rumored to be paired against Caitlin Clark at next month’s midseason classic on his home court in San Francisco.
Clark helped bring historic popularity to the WNBA season over the summer as a rookie for the Indiana Fever, who share their home court with the Pacers.
Clark has attended several NBA games this season, including Pacers home games against the New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks.
The NBA has made no announcement on a possible Curry-Clark shootout on All-Star Weekend, but it’s clear Curry is a big fan of the former Iowa star.
“Her shooting ability is her superpower,” Curry said. “I love what she’s done for women’s basketball. When she shows up, the seats are filled, and there’s a different energy.”
With the Warriors having rested Curry’s 36-year-old knees already three times on back-to-backs this season, there’s no guarantee Clark would get a chance to see her potential rival even if she attends the game.
Curry shot just 2-for-14 from 3-point range on Thursday, but the Warriors escaped Detroit with a 107-104 win to kick off a four-game trip. The Olympic hero contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
Golden State played the front end of a back-to-back without several key players, including Andrew Wiggins, who left the team for personal reasons.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced after the Thursday contest that Wiggins again would not be with the club for the Indiana game. It’s uncertain if or when the forward might return on a trip that continues with games at Toronto on Monday and at Minnesota on Wednesday.
Golden State also has rested Draymond Green under similar circumstances this season. Kerr announced in Detroit that both Curry and Green would be game-day decisions on Friday, determinations complicated by the fact that Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Gary Payton II and Moses Moody were already missing from the trip opener.
While the Warriors were ending a two-game losing streak, the Pacers were enjoying a day off Thursday to rest on the laurels of a four-game winning streak. The victories — over the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls — came by an average of 15.2 points.
A day off was exactly what the doctor ordered for two key Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, who labored through a painful ankle against the Bulls, and Myles Turner, who sat out the Chicago game due to an illness. Both were listed as questionable for Friday.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has dependable Thomas Bryant on standby in case Turner is sidelined again.
“He seemed to always be in the right place at the right time,” Carlisle said of Bryant’s 22-point, eight-rebound effort in a 129-113 victory over the Bulls. “He brings a real positive energy.”
Turner had 23 points and 10 rebounds while Haliburton added 16 points and 12 assists as the Pacers won 111-105 at Golden State on Dec. 23. Curry was limited to 10 points, shooting just 2-for-9 from beyond the 3-point arc.