NBA notebook: Curry targeting Friday return

Curry is targeting a return to action against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. He
had his ailing right ankle re-evaluated Tuesday, and he was given clearance to
return to practice Wednesday. The Warriors said that Curry is making good
progress.

The 30-year-old guard has missed the team's past six games, four of which was
losses. He sustained his latest injury on March 8 against the San Antonio
Spurs.

Curry will have two full days of practice and a shootaround to test his ankle
before the Friday game. He is averaging 26.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1
rebounds per game in 50 contests this season.

--With a lack of progress with his sore left knee, Boston Celtics guard Kyrie
Irving will travel for a second opinion on the ailment later this week, coach
Brad Stevens confirmed.

Yahoo Sports first reported the news, adding that Irving does not yet have a
date set for his return.

The 25-year-old guard has the past three games and the second half of a fourth
game. The Celtics lost three of the four contests, including two defeats by a
combined three points. Boston general manager Danny Ainge said last week on
98.5 The Sports Hub that Irving may eventually need surgery on the knee, but
that he expects the star guard to be fine for the playoffs.

--Oklahoma freshman guard Trae Young is entering the 2018 NBA Draft, the
first-team All-American announced on Twitter.

Young is projected to be a top-10 pick in the draft. The Big 12 freshman of
the year averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists and set the conference scoring
record with 811 points in 2017-18.

The 19-year-old tied the NCAA single-game assist record with 22 against
Northwestern State, equaling the mark set by Sherman Douglas, Avery Johnson
and Tony Fairley.

--Texas freshman center Mohamed Bamba declared for the 2018 NBA Draft in a
statement released by the school.

Bamba was expected to be a one-and-done player when he chose the Longhorns. He
is viewed as a sure top-10 selection and could possibly elevate into the top
five.

Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game for the
Longhorns.

--Former NBA All-Star Steve Francis was arrested for public intoxication
Sunday night in Burbank, Calif., according to multiple reports.

Burbank police said they arrested Francis for public intoxication after
responding to a report of an unruly patron in a hotel bar. Francis was taken
into custody, issued a citation and released Monday morning.

Francis, a three-time NBA All-Star during his playing days, opened up about
his troubled childhood, dealing drugs and his struggles with alcohol abuse
earlier this month in an essay published by The Players' Tribune.

--Houston Rockets guard Gerald Green was fined $25,000 by the NBA for shoving
Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng during a Sunday contest between the
two teams.

Green was ejected after the fourth-quarter shove that sent Dieng into the
first row of seats.

Houston's Chris Paul and Dieng were tangled up, and Dieng pushed a falling
Paul toward the ground. Green rushed over and delivered the hard shove that
sent Dieng into the stands. Order was quickly restored by the officiating
crew.

--The Milwaukee Bucks will sign point guard Brandon Jennings to a second
10-day contract, according to multiple reports.

Jennings' initial 10-day deal was due to expire Tuesday. He has averaged 6.0
points, 5.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds in four games since rejoining the
franchise.

Jennings, 28, spent the first four seasons (2009-13) of his NBA career with
Milwaukee when he was one of the club's top players. Now he is attempting to
re-ignite his career and is appreciative of his second chance with the Bucks,
telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "It's meant a lot, it's been great."

--Field Level Media