Stephen Curry may rush back to support new teammate in Miami

Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters Monday that he thought his star guard would hurry back from a pelvic contusion suffered last week because he's "an amazing teammate."

Tuesday is Jimmy Butler's first game back in Miami since the Heat traded him to the Warriors in February. The exit was full of bitterness on both sides, so there's likely to be some venom from the fans in South Beach. TNT was so excited about the matchup that it switched out the New York Knicks-Dallas Mavericks game in order to broadcast it.

Curry missed the first game of the Warriors' six-game road trip treating the injury, but joined the team Monday and did an individual workout. He's officially listed as "questionable" for Tuesday, with the team planning to re-evaluate his status that day.

"I think Steph feels an obligation always to be there for his teammates," said Kerr. "No doubt he wants to be there for Jimmy. That's one of the things I love about Steph. He's always there for his guys."

Kerr and the Warriors have experienced this kind of situation before. In 2017, after Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, his first game back in OKC was a bitter affair. Fans booed and waved signs, while Durant and former teammate Andre Roberson got double technicals after an altercation. Still, KD finished with 34 points and the Warriors got a win.

That's the other reason Curry might want to rush back. The race for sixth place is intense in the Western Conference, with the Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers separated by a single game — and all are on hot streaks, winning eight of their last 10 games. Curry wants to support Butler but he also wants to avoid the play-in tournament.

With two days off before Friday's game against the 19-53 New Orleans Pelicans, the Warriors and Curry might feel like the risk of a quick return is worth it, especially if he could likely rest until Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs if need be. 

Plus, nothing would make Butler's homecoming complete more than Curry saying "Night Night" to the Miami fans.