NBA notebook: Curry expects to return in second round

The second-seeded Warriors, who lost three of four to end the regular season,
face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round beginning Saturday.

Curry, sidelined since March 23, suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his first
game back from an ankle injury and is progressing on schedule in his rehab
from the injury.

"I haven't had any setbacks," Curry told the San Jose Mercury News earlier
this week. "So that's the positive, every day has been something good,
advancing the rehab process. I'm looking forward to making more progress as we
get towards the playoffs."

--The Charlotte Hornets relieved head coach Steve Clifford of his duties after
a second consecutive 36-46 season.

Clifford, 56, helped revive the franchise by taking the Hornets to the
playoffs in 2014 and 2016 and leaves with a 196-214 record in five seasons
with the team.

Charlotte joins several teams in the hunt for a new head coach, including the
New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis
Grizzlies.

--A day before his team plays its first playoff game in six years,
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown said star big man Joel Embiid isn't
expected to be on the court for Game 1.

The third-seeded 76ers open their best-of-seven series against the Miami Heat
at 8 p.m. ET Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Embiid, who averaged 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds in the regular season, is
recovering from a fractured orbital bone in his left eye and has practiced on
a limited basis with a dark protective mask. Embiid was injured March 28 in a
collision with teammate Markelle Fultz.

--Oklahoma City swingman Corey Brewer is questionable to play when the Thunder
open their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Brewer injured his right knee during Wednesday's regular-season finale against
the Memphis Grizzlies. Guard Alex Abrines (concussion) also is questionable
for Sunday's game.

The Thunder have gone 11-5 in the 16 games Brewer has started since joining
the team at the end of February. He averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in
18 games with the squad.

--Washington Wizards guard Jodie Meeks was suspended 25 games for violating
the league's anti-drug program, the NBA announced.

Meeks tested positive for banned compounds ipamorelin and
growth-hormone-releasing peptide-2, but Meeks issued a direct denial to ESPN
and said he plans to appeal the punishment.

The suspension would mean Meeks will miss the start of the playoffs. The
Wizards play the Toronto Raptors to open the postseason. Meeks, 30, is
averaging 6.3 points in 14.5 minutes per game this season.

-- Oklahoma City suspended television play-by-play announcer Brian Davis for
Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs for an on-air comment he made during
the team's regular-season finale on Wednesday.

During the Thunder's game against Memphis on Wednesday, Davis said point guard
Russell Westbrook was "out of his cotton-pickin' mind" after Westbrook tallied
an assist en route to averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive
season.

"It is with great remorse and humility that I accept this suspension for the
insensitive words I used during Wednesday's broadcast," Davis said in a
statement. "While unintentional, I understand and acknowledge the gravity of
the situation. I offer my sincere apology and realize that, while I committed
a lapse in judgment, such mistakes come with consequences. This is an
appropriate consequence for my actions."

-- Field Level Media