NBA News Weekly: Steph Curry's Return Unclear

By Ziv Chen  | 

Feb 15th, 2023 03:07 PM  |  3 mins

 | 

 Fact Checked by Mark Fordham

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As we head into the All-Star break, teams are starting to chase wins and close in on a coveted NBA playoff spot. While all eyes will turn to Salt Lake City for the NBA All-Star Game this Sunday, plenty is going on across the league and beyond.

After smashing through the NBA’s all-time scoring record, LeBron James has something else to celebrate as his son, Bronny, has received his first Team USA selection. Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks collected a statement win against the Boston Celtics that could make them popular NBA picks, and Steph Curry looks set for a prolonged absence from the Golden State Warriors lineup. Read on for some of the stories you might have missed this week.

Bronny James Selected for Team USA at Nike Hoop Summit

Fresh off the back of his father breaking the all-time NBA scoring record, Bronny James has been selected in a 26-man roster for Team USA in this year’s Nike Hoop Summit.

The event will see Team USA face off against teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania on April 8 at the Moda Center, Portland. James is the only uncommitted player in the squad ahead of the upcoming NCAA basketball season. Despite not announcing his post-high-school plans, Oregon, Ohio State and USC are looking to recruit James. Rumors of a professional contract in Australia’s NBL also persist.

The Sierra Canyon High School senior is ranked as the 28th-best recruit in the 2023 class. Most expect him to play for at least one more season before entering the NBA draft. LeBron has indicated that he’ll play with Bronny for one season before he retires, meaning the lucky draftee of the four-star recruit might get a 2-for-1 with one of the greatest of all time thrown in, which could vault them up the odds at some US betting apps.

Despite becoming the highest-scoring player in NBA history, LeBron’s Lakers have struggled in the league this season, sitting in 13th position in the Western Conference. The Lakers are (-290) to miss the postseason this year with some NBA betting sites.

Bucks beat Celtics in Potential Conference Finals Matchup

There looked to have been little point in trying to catch Boston this season for the number 1 seed in the East. However, after beating the Celtics in overtime for their 11th straight win, the Milwaukee Bucks are just half a game behind the conference leaders.

Jrue Holiday was the leading light for the Bucks, scoring a career-high 40 points, including a go-ahead shot from beyond the arc with 25.2 seconds left in overtime. Holiday shot 8-of-12 from beyond the arc, including a spectacular buzzer-beater behind midcourt at the end of the third quarter. Chipping in with seven assists, Holiday was unfazed by his career-best game, saying, "I don't really, I guess, care for how I'm playing as long as we're winning."

Holiday is now heading to the All-Star game this weekend for the first time in a decade, marking the longest gap between All-Star appearances in the history of the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo will join him in Utah, and he warmed up for the event by scoring 36 points in the matchup. Giannis will captain one of the teams in Salt Lake City.

Boston was short-handed for the matchup, missing Jayson Tatum through illness, Jaylen Brown through a facial fracture, Marcus Smart with an ankle injury and Al Horford with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Milwaukee was fully fit for the game, and its 11-game winning streak is now the longest of the season.

With Milwaukee now just half a game back going into a game against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday and Boston facing the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the race is on for the first seed in the East. The two teams are the two favorites to win the NBA this season, with some USA sports betting sites valuing Boston as low as (+270) to win the NBA Finals and Milwaukee at (+410). Most basketball fans and bettors expect that a repeat of the fixture will feature at some point during the NBA playoffs.

Curry’s Return Date is Uncertain

Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry indicated to the press this week that he has no fixed return date after suffering a lower leg injury at the start of the month. Golden State intended for its star to return after the All-Star break against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 23. Curry has admitted that prospect is fading, and he looks set to spend a few more games on the sidelines.

Curry suffered a ligament tear in his lower knee when he collided with Dallas Mavericks’ McKinley Wright IV on February 4. Unlike his previous shoulder injury, his latest issue must fully heal before he can return to the court.

"Ligaments can heal in all different types of timelines, so there's a window for each checkpoint. After the All-Star break, I will hopefully get back on the court, and then depending on how things go from there, we can key in on a specific date to get back," said Curry on Monday.

The Warriors are 1-2 throughout Curry’s absence and lost to division rivals the Los Angeles Clippers last night. After the matchup with the Lakers on February 24, the Warriors face the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers in their next few games. Sitting ninth in the Western Conference, good for a play-in spot, the reigning champions are (+1600) to win the NBA Finals with some NBA betting sites.