Warriors' Stephen Curry hopes to return shortly after All-Star break

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) — Stephen Curry hopes to get back to some on-court work duringthe All-Star break but will miss time afterward as he recovers froma left leg injury.

The reigningNBA Finals MVP missed his fourth straight game after gettinginjured against Dallas on Feb. 4 in a collision while defendingMcKinley Wright IV as he drove to the basket. Wright’s knee hitCurry’s shin.

“It waspretty big knock that kind of jolted the bone and ligaments inthere, which was all terms I didn’t know existed before,” Currysaid. “It was just a timing thing. If my foot’s elevated and it’sjust more like a contusion you can kind of deal with it but becausemy foot was planted and a lot of weight on it, the force of theimpact was a little more serious than I wanted it to be.”

Curry said hewill likely have a better idea of the timeline and a possibletarget date for his return once he actually tests the leg on thecourt. An MRI exam showed partial tears to his superiortibiofibular ligament and interosseous membrane in his left leg. Healso had a bruise.

Because ofthe ligament damage, Curry said it’s hard to know how long hishealing will take.

“At first itfelt like it was a normal contusion, just a real serious one,that’s why I went to the bench and thought I could kind of justshake it off, then I got up from the bench and felt somethingdifferent and was like ‘Nah, that’s not right,’” Curry said. “Iknew it was something more than just a normal contusion because Icouldn’t put any weight on it and was hobbling around. Thankfullythere weren’t any broken bones or anything.”

Curry islooking forward to welcoming back newly acquired guard Gary PaytonII and having everyone healthy to try to make a run at anothertitle. Curry is averaging 29.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.4assists. He will miss the All-Star game but posed with his No. 30West jersey.

Curry sat outhis 19th game overall this season for the defending champions, 11of those with a partially dislocated left shoulder. He remainsconfident about Golden State’s chances despite its struggles andinconsistency.

“I know we’rea different team than we were, I know we have different challengesthan we did last year but it still has been proven that if we’rehealthy come playoff time and we have a shot to get into a series,that we’re a tough out,” Curry said. “That’s where all the optimismis until proven differently.”