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Rockets-Warriors Preview

Apr 18, 2016 - 7:11 PM OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Golden State Warriors may have been right in preparing to play without NBA MVP Stephen Curry for Game 2 of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets as he nurses an ankle injury.

Although Curry had insisted it would be hard to keep him off the court Monday night, the star guard didn't participate in the pregame shootaround and could be sitting on the bench at tipoff.

"Oh, yeah, for sure," coach Steve Kerr said of Curry campaigning to play. "When Steph's out, our guys understand that he's not there to count on, so they have to execute. If they don't, we're just not going to score enough points."

Kerr called Curry's status questionable Sunday when the point guard didn't practice a day after hurting his right ankle late in the first half of a 104-78 win over the Rockets in the playoff opener.

Curry underwent treatment on the ankle Sunday and was unavailable for interviews.

"He's doing a little better than yesterday," Kerr said.

With Curry seemingly out for Game 2, Shaun Livingston will start in his place. The Warriors won at Houston on Dec. 31 without their superstar.

"It kind of changes things. We don't seem to be as good of a coaching staff when Steph goes out - I don't know why," Kerr joked after Sunday's practice.

"We've got a lot of guys who can play. I think Steph missed three or four games this year. We did fine. Obviously we've got to find different ways to score. We'll prepare for that and see what happens."

Golden State's backups have prided themselves all season in not losing a step when the second team comes into the game. In fact, contributions by the bench were a big reason the Warriors set the NBA record with 73 wins to top the 1995-96 Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls that Kerr played for.

"We're prepared. We're going to continue to play. We're ready to step in," said power forward Marreese Speights, who scored 12 in 15 minutes off the bench Saturday.

"We've got a lot of guys who can play and will impact the game. We know Steph, when his 30 points are taken off the board - or really 60 points with all the stuff he's doing on the court, playing defense, passing the ball, helping, controlling the offense - but we'll be all right."

Curry landed awkwardly shortly before halftime Saturday.

"I just tried to change direction, missed the shot, and tried to get back on defense, and then slipped a little bit and felt it slip or tweak," he said afterward.

Houston looks for a better start after it trailed 33-15 entering the second quarter of the opener and was down 27 after 24 minutes. The Rockets are trying to remain upbeat about their situation.

"It's only one game," star guard James Harden said. "No matter the deficit, you win by 30, you lose by 30, you win by one, it's only one game. Our focus is to come in here and win one game. And we'll have that opportunity Monday night."

Harden probably needs to play better for the Rockets to have any chance. He scored just 17 points in the opener on 7-of-19 shooting, and one of the NBA's best at creating fouls didn't attempt a single free throw.

The deep and versatile Warriors have a number of options and a good scheme to defend the league's runner-up to Curry for the scoring title.

"For us, to keep him off the free throw line and get those nine extra points he usually gets, that's important for us," Curry said.

"So my guess is it probably won't happen the rest of the series, but for the most part if we just continue to keep our fundamentals, show our hands, keep our body in front of him, maybe we can control that part of their offensive attack for the most part in the series."