The Spurs can’t let Steph Curry’s injury take the edge off an NBA Cup game that matters

Friday's Spurs-Warriors head-to-head doesn't have Avengers: Doomsday-level anticipation, but I've certainly been looking forward to it. That's likely true for most fans, and even some of San Antonio's players, considering how the two November games against the Warriors went last year. Golden State won 125-120 and then 109-108 in the Frost Bank Center.

The Spurs took the next two meetings but Steph Curry sat out for both. Now they may be missing greatest shooter of all time again, due to an abdominal injury. These teams have played some of the best hoops in the league this season, so that's a matchup everyone is supposed to look forward to.

If Steph is out, the Spurs must make sure disappointment doesn't turn into a dull effort.

The Spurs just got a free lesson in what happens when they take a team lightly. Chicago led by as many as 22 on Wednesday before the Silver and Black woke up, outscored the one-win Bulls by 19 after halftime and escaped with a 124-119 win for their tenth in a row.

I was worried about this exact scenario before tipoff, and San Antonio justified those concerns. Fortunately, they fixed it because they can rev up to another gear. Once their energy and attention to detail picked up, it was a wrap, but that's not a strategy they'll want to gamble with against the Warriors whether Wardell plays or not.

The Warriors are dangerous with or without Steph Curry

The Chef's status is up in the air after leaving the Rockets game in the first quarter. In his postgame presser, Steve Kerr revealed Curry told him that he tweaked something in his abdominal area, something he's never done before.

Steph went for an MRI with no results to speak of yet, but Kerr didn't hide his apprehension: "Concern is high," Golden State's coach told Anthony Slater. He then added that he doesn't know the extent of the injury. That means the Spurs must be ready to go no matter who's out there.

Don't let the injury news make this look easy. Golden State opened 0-3, then won eight straight heading into Wednesday with victories over the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Lakers. They're a long way from the squad that went 37-45 last season.

Part of the reason is Yaxel Lendeborg, who now sits atop the NBA's latest rookie ladder. He's averaging almost 22 points, seven rebounds, and nearly four assists, and he's the only rookie putting up those numbers. The former Michigan star plays fearlessly, and that's a trait we admire in a young guy, as the Spurs have a few of their own.

Here are a couple of other reasons: Brandon Podziemski is putting up 17 points a night on 48% FG. The Warriors' have the fifth-highest offensive rating and the 11th-best defensive rating. Steph undoubtedly is a large part of the offense's production, but they'll just lean into their defense, and Kerr will come up with a plan for the other side.

NBA Cup stakes make every Spurs point count

This isn't a normal Friday in November, either. It's an NBA Cup game, and the Group C standings have the Warriors and Spurs both at 1-0. Golden State has a plus-17 point differential and San Antonio has a plus-15.

Under the Cup's tiebreaker rules, head-to-head record comes first and point differential second. Friday's winner gets the edge on the first, and the margin matters for the second if it ends in a tie. The Silver and Black have been beating the brakes off of teams all season, and they shouldn't stop now.

If Curry plays, we should see fireworks and who knows where the dust settles. But if not, start fast anyway and finish the job the way they did in the second half in Chi-Town. Make the Warriors chase you. The Spurs are the big bad wolf here, so just keep acting like it.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow