Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry left no doubt about his status for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday.
“I’m going to play,” Curry told reporters on Thursday, a day after injuring his left foot while diving for a loose ball late in a Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics.
“I don’t feel like I’ll miss a game,” Curry added.
The Athletic reported on Thursday that Curry will not need an MRI before Game 4.
During a scrum to recover possession in the fourth quarter, Boston big man Al Horford leapt into the fray and landed on Curry’s left foot, leaving the two-time MVP hobbled.
Curry remained in the game initially but was removed with 2:19 remaining and Golden State down 14 points.
With the Warriors trailing the series 2-1 and a 48-hour turnaround before Game 4, Curry’s status quickly became the focal point.
“I’ll be alright,” Curry said after Game 3. “I got caught underneath Al. Obviously there’ll be some pain, but I’ll be alright.
“Figure out how it feels tomorrow and get ready for Friday. [It was] the same thing I did against Boston during the regular season, but not as bad.”
Curry is shooting 48.6 percent from three-point range in these Finals and is averaging over 31 points per game, almost double the Warriors’ second-leading scorer in the series: Klay Thompson at 17 points per game.
“Curry will be needed if the Warriors are to claim a fourth NBA title in eight years.
“We need him if we want to win this thing,” Thompson said of his Splash Brother and team-mate.