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Sources: Stephen Curry to avoid suspension for stepping on court during dead-ball situation

Stephen Curry goes to the hole around Lakers center JaVale McGee during Wednesday’s game in Las Vegas. (AP)
Stephen Curry goes to the hole around Lakers center JaVale McGee during Wednesday’s game in Las Vegas. (AP)

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will avoid a suspension for stepping onto the court during what some viewed as an altercation in Friday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins, who stepped on the floor with Curry, will also not be penalized, sources said.

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A player who is not currently in the game is typically assessed a one-game suspension for leaving the immediate vicinity of the bench when an altercation ensues in live action.

The two stars will not be reprimanded because the league did not deem the activity of Lakers guard Lance Stephenson and Warriors guard Quinn Cook as being an “altercation,” sources said.

Had Curry been disciplined, he would have been forced to sit out Tuesday’s anticipated season-opener at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cousins would have served his suspension once he returned from an Achilles injury.

In the fourth quarter, Stephenson was fouled hard by Cook while driving to the basket and the Laker guard swung his right arm wildly in the area of Cook, prompting officials and players to separate the two.

That’s when Curry and Cousins stepped on the court in disbelief at the time of the dead ball.

Assistant coach Jarron Collins immediately rushed over to send the stars back to the bench area and then coach Steve Kerr appeared to stress to them the importance of staying in the restricted area.

Cook never looked to escalate the matter as he walked away.

The league tries to grant leniency in most cases when it’s a dead-ball situation as players on the bench usually step on the court to congratulate or communicate with their teammates.

However, because the Stephenson-Cook incident was of no real concern for safety, no penalties were necessary.

After the Warriors host the Thunder, they then embark on a two-game road trip starting in Utah and ending in Denver.

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