Stephen Curry questionable for game against Mavericks

The world champion Golden State Warriors will make their first appearance of the season at American Airlines Center on Wednesday when they play the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m.

But the defending champs may be without all-round guard Steph Curry.

Curry did not practice with the Warriors at AAC late Tuesday afternoon and is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game. Warriors interim coach Luke Walton told the San Jose Mercury News that Curry is suffering from an ailing lower left leg and may not play against the Mavs, and also may not play in Thursday’s game at Houston.

“There’s a chance that he won’t play in one or both,’’ Walton told the Mercury News. “That’s probably going to be a game-time decision or at least determined on how he’s feeling tomorrow.’’

Forward Draymond Green (sore ankle) and center Festus Ezeli (sore right foot) also did not practice Monday at AAC. Meanwhile, forward Harrison Barnes (sprained left ankle) and guard Leandro Barbosa (sprained left shoulder) definitely won’t play against the Mavs.

Curry was limping during Monday’s 122-103 win over Sacramento, although his finished that game with his sixth career triple double (23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists). He also suffered a strain calf in his right leg during last Friday’s game against Cleveland.

“He hasn’t said anything except for he wants to play,’’ Walton said. “Even last night in the game when I saw him in the game limping, and I tried to take him out, he gave the wave-off and said that it was fine.”

The Mavs, of course, have been practicing and preparing a game plan to slow down Curry. But they also know players such as Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bogut and Shaun Livingston, Marreese Speights have the capacity to take over a game.

“No one has ever played this way off the dribble -- it’s breathtaking to watch,’’ Carlisle said. “It’s something that we really have never seen before in this league, and it’s a mammoth challenge trying to contain him.

“And we not even talking about Thompson and Green and all their other great players. But he’s the starting point and he’s the MVP and it’s a major challenge.’’

The Warriors won their first 24 games of the season and are 29-1 overall. It’s the best 30-game start of any team in NBA history.

That’s why the Mavs know they really have to be on top of their game to defeat that a Warriors club that can win with speed, power or the half court game. And if Curry plays, the Mavs must crowd him as much as humanly possible while also throwing different looks at him.

“The team’s got to respond to where he is on the floor, the guy guarding him has got a huge challenge,’’ Carlisle said. “You’ve got to keep fresh guys out there running at him, and again we haven’t talked about Thompson yet.

“He’s an All-Star too, and Green, he’s one of the best players in the West this year, and they’ve got a lot of other guys that are damn good players, too. We’ve got our hands full, but it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to.’’

Dwain Price can be heard every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m. on dfwiradio.com

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Stephen Curry questionable for game against Mavericks."