Nobody wants to deal with an injury during the NBA Playoffs, but if the 2015 NBA MVP Stephen Curry is going to miss any post-season play, the Golden State Warriors are lucky to have it happen so far in advance of the NBA Finals. The defending NBA Champions aren’t the only team dealing with playoff injuries, however. Dirk Nowitski is just the latest star that the Dallas Mavericks have had to add to their injured list, while the Boston Celtics aren’t optimistic about Avery Bradley returning to face the Atlanta Hawks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VaGxbrrNVA

As the NBA prepares for the Game 3 match-ups in the first round of the playoffs, the latest updates (as of Thursday afternoon) for Curry, Nowitski and Bradley are below.

Stephen Curry injury

As reported by NBA.com, Stephen Curry’s ankle injury caused the All-Star guard some discomfort before Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. Having had surgery on the ankle twice during the 2011-12 NBA season, Curry chose to play it safe and sit the game out. Without Curry in the line-up, the Warriors were still able to defeat the Rockets 115-106.

Going into Game 3 with a 2-0 lead in the series, it seems highly unlikely that Golden State would risk playing Curry if he wasn’t 100 percent. As of Thursday afternoon, Curry’s status remained questionable.

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Dirk Nowitzki injury

When the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, it set the series as one of just two that find the teams tied 1-1 (the other being the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference). While they just managed to get past the Thunder 85-84, it came at a price. Dirk Nowitzki bruised his knee, and he could be missing some action because of it.

BREAKING: MRI Reveals Dirk Nowitzki's Uncertain Future Due To Bone Bruise In Right Kneehttps://t.co/ZjNauS4iHE pic.twitter.com/12LVLqY8h7

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 19, 2016

Monday’s game was a massive improvement over the 38-point loss the Mavericks were handed in Game 1. But Nowitzki is just one of four players on the Dallas roster that could miss Thursday’s Game 3. Already on that list is Deron Williams, J.J. Barea, and David Lee. While nothing has been confirmed as of Thursday afternoon, Nowitzki said that his knee feels better and he expects to play against Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Avery Bradley injury

Like Stephen Curry, Avery Bradley already missed Game 2 of his first round playoff series. During Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks, Bradley injured his right hamstring. Although Avery says he feels better, Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge has made it clear that the guard won’t come back until he is completely healthy.

Danny Ainge says Avery Bradley (Grade 2 hamstring strain) a "long shot" to play again vs. Hawks. #GetBetterAB pic.twitter.com/Yl9TKrAz9B

— Celtics News (@CelticsNewsNBA) April 21, 2016

“Avery is such a critical piece of our future,” Ainge said. “I’m certainly not going to allow Avery to go out at less than 100 percent.” After reviewing the results of his MRI, Ainge has already said that Bradley will be sitting out for at least Game 3 and Game 4 against Atlanta, and in all likelihood won’t play another game in the series against the Hawks.

Where to Watch

The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks for Game 3 of their series on Friday, April 22. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. EST on TNT. Atlanta currently leads the series 2-0. The Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, April 21. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. EST on TNT. The series is currently tied 1-1.

.@stephencurry30 weighs in on his status for Game 3… https://t.co/PdUB4SVXJA

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 21, 2016

The Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, April 21. Coverage begins at 9:30 p.m. EST on TNT. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors lead the series 2-0.

[Photo credit Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images]