Steph Curry rejoins Warriors at practice, targeting Sunday return

More significantly, Curry participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage after practice with young teammates and coaches. How Curry’s knee responds to the scrimmage will determine how soon he potentially returns to action.

“It’s a good step for him,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “We’ll how he responds to the scrimmage, how he feels (Wednesday), and then we’ll take it from there.”

Curry will not play Wednesday night against San Antonio, according to Kerr, and is doubtful for Thursday’s game against Cleveland. That would leave five regular-season games, starting with Houston on Sunday at Chase Center.

Curry is targeting Sunday’s game as his return, a source told the Chronicle. 

Kerr said this still gives Curry a pathway to be ready for the NBA play-in tournament starting April 14 or 15. Curry probably would need to scrimmage again, Kerr suggested, before receiving clearance to play in a game.

Asked about the impact of Curry’s long-awaited participation in practice, Kerr said, “The gym was bouncier. Everyone’s spirits are lifted when he’s playing.”

Curry hasn’t played since Jan. 30 because of persistent pain and swelling in his right knee, a condition diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome and known more informally as runner’s knee. The Warriors have gone 9-16 since Curry went down.

Forward Gui Santos acknowledged the Warriors didn’t do a whole lot Tuesday; they mostly watched video of Sunday night’s loss to Denver and reviewed concepts on offense and defense, per Kerr. But Santos still found comfort in Curry’s presence. 

“It’s amazing, man, just to have him out there with us,” Santos said. “We have a lot more confidence when we have Steph on the court.”

As for how Curry will help the Warriors when he returns, Santos smiled and said candidly, “He always has two guys guarding him, so that’s one less guy guarding everybody else. That’s how it makes it easier for us.”

Wemby on deck: The Warriors (36-39) have seven regular-season games left. The first three are daunting: Spurs (57-18), Cavaliers (47-28 entering Tuesday’s action) and Rockets (45-29 before Tuesday).

San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama arrive in San Francisco on a nine-game winning streak. The Spurs went 25-2 in February and March combined, and they trail Oklahoma City by 2½ games in the race for the Western Conference’s top seed.

“They’re a championship-caliber team,” Kerr said. “They’re one of the main contenders, they’ve earned that right. They’re the real deal.”

Briefly: Kristaps Porzingis (illness management) and De’Anthony Melton (strained left thumb) will not play Wednesday night, nor will Quinten Post (sore right foot). The Warriors listed Gary Payton II (knee injury management) and Santos (bruised pelvis) as questionable. Several of these players could return for the second half of the back-to-back set Thursday against Cleveland. Porzingis has not yet been cleared to play on both ends of a back-to-back. … Center Al Horford, who has missed the past nine games because of a strained calf, said he’s “encouraged” by his progress though he hasn’t yet returned to practice. Horford hopes to play in a couple of games before the regular season ends.