Warriors' De'Anthony Melton clears back-to-back hurdle, eyes Steph Curry's return
· Yahoo Sports
DALLAS – De'Anthony Melton quietly found satisfaction in playing games on consecutive nights for the first time this season Friday and Saturday. That's no idle achievement for a player fewer than 16 months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
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Melton's efforts – 14 points against Detroit, then 20 more against Atlanta – did not prevent the Golden State Warriors from absorbing two more frustrating losses. They are skidding toward oblivion, with eight defeats in their past nine games entering Monday night's visit to Dallas.
That helps explain the somber mood in the locker room late Saturday night in Atlanta, after a dispiriting 126-110 loss. But Melton reported no ill effects from playing both ends of the back-to-back, an assignment the Warriors had carefully avoided with him all season.
He's still on a minutes restriction: Melton logged a modest 22-plus minutes against the Pistons and 21-plus against the Hawks. But the notable development was he actually played both nights, setting aside caution for the first time since he returned to action Dec. 4, exactly one year after his surgery.
"I felt great out there," he said. "It's great to play back-to-back and just compete."
The Warriors have leaned on Melton as one of their main sources of offense with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Al Horford all sidelined because of injuries. (Kristaps Porzingis also missed Saturday night's game.) Melton is one of the few Golden State players with the skills to slice into the lane and break down defenses.
This ability – essential with Curry and Co. out – also should prove valuable when No. 30 returns. That could happen as early as Wednesday night's home game against Brooklyn.
Ever since the early days of the 2024-25 season, when head coach Steve Kerr first placed Melton alongside Curry in the starting backcourt – for only two games before Melton got hurt – Kerr has envisioned putting them back together. Melton's torn ACL ruined the plan last season.
Then his slow ramp-up this season – followed by Curry's departure Jan. 30 with his own knee injury – delayed things again. Now, with Curry on the brink of a long-awaited comeback, the mere thought brings a wide smile to Melton's face.
"It's not just the points Steph puts up," he said. "It's the gravity he has, the way he can manipulate defenses – and, honestly, he's sneaky good sometimes defensively with his hands and everything.
"Man, I just can't wait. I'm excited."
Melton is not alone in the sentiment on his discouraged team. The Warriors have fallen behind Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference standings, into 10th place. That puts them on track to begin the play-in tournament on the road, and would require them to win twice (both on the road) to qualify for the playoffs.
They will need Melton to keep darting to the basket whenever Curry returns, so they found encouragement in his inaugural back-to-back set of the season. Melton also has drawn the opponent's top perimeter defender in recent games, including Detroit's Ausar Thompson and Atlanta's Dyson Daniels.
That figures to change when Curry returns.
"It's meaningful," Kerr said of Melton playing on consecutive nights. "The hope is he can continue to do this, and when we do get Steph and Moses and Al and Kristaps back, we have the firepower we need. Melt will really thrive because he's not going to have the best defender on him, which he's had the last couple of nights.
"His health is everything. I'm so happy for him. The guy missed (most of) two years because of injuries, in the prime of his career."
Melton, 27, is a rare Warriors player not in the twilight of his career, or just starting out. Golden State flows with 35-and-over standouts (Curry, Butler, Draymond Green, Horford) and 25-and-under hopefuls (Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard).
So, yes, they could use more of Melton.
Kerr often talks about finding ways to "gain an advantage" on offense. Curry provides that with his mere presence, creating space because opponents devote extra attention to him. Butler routinely did the same, opening up room for teammates to operate.
That's also what Melton can do when he beats his man off the dribble, forcing defenses to rotate.
"We need that right now, obviously," teammate Pat Spencer said of Melton's drives. "But when we get everybody healthy, that's such a valuable asset next to Steph."
Melton expects Curry's pending return to make an impact in spirit as much as on the scoreboard.
"To see Steph go out there and smile, play so free-flowing, would be great," Melton said. "We just hope that resonates through the team. And his IQ for the game is sometimes what we're missing, too, what he sees. Man, we can't wait."
Injury update: Moody emerged from Sunday's rehab workout better than expected, according to a Warriors spokesperson, so the team listed him as questionable for Monday night's game in Dallas. Porzingis (back) is probable.
There was no immediate word on Curry's condition after he participated in a scrimmage Sunday. He won't play Monday, but the Warriors have kept open the possibility he will return Wednesday night against Brooklyn.
This article originally published at Warriors' De'Anthony Melton clears back-to-back hurdle, eyes Steph Curry's return.