Warriors get a bit of a breather amid a grinding schedule

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Three weeks ago, head coach Steve Kerr called the looming parade of January games the “dog days” of the long NBA season. Now, as the calendar reaches February, the Warriors aren’t done with those days quite yet.

They still have two more weeks and eight more games before reaching the All-Star break. They enter this stretch with guard Stephen Curry recovering from the stomach flu, center Zaza Pachulia dealing with a sore right shoulder and center/forward David West trying to come back from a thumb injury.

That’s why Kerr, after a day off Monday, also scrapped practice Tuesday and allowed players to work out as they saw fit. Curry and Klay Thompson hoisted shots, for instance, while JaVale McGee and Ian Clark, among others, engaged in a spirited three-on-three-game.

“We didn’t think it would be productive to have a real practice,” Kerr said. “It’s all with an eye on pacing the team through the season and getting us to the All-Star break.…

“Hopefully, these two days off give guys the energy to get through the next few days, and then we’ll go from there. ... We’re kind of just going a week at a time, finding our way.”

Curry was feeling better after missing Sunday night’s game in Portland, and Kerr said it was “highly likely” he will play Wednesday night against Charlotte. The Warriors officially listed Curry and Pachulia, who had an MRI exam on his shoulder Tuesday, as questionable to face the Hornets.

Stephen Curry (30) reaches out to high five Klay Thompson (11) after Thompson hit a three pointer in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. less Stephen Curry (30) reaches out to high five Klay Thompson (11) after Thompson hit a three pointer in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Warriors get a bit of a breather amid a grinding schedule 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

West, who has missed six games since hurting his thumb Jan. 16 against Oklahoma City, will be re-evaluated Wednesday.

These aches and pains come at a time when Kerr already was on high alert for signs of fatigue. He rested guard Shaun Livingston on Jan. 22 in Orlando and forward Andre Iguodala the next night in Miami, during a road trip of four games in six days.

The schedule hasn’t relented much since the Warriors returned to the Bay Area last week. They played back-to-back games Saturday (Oakland) and Sunday (Portland), and now have another back-to-back set Wednesday (Oakland) and Thursday (Los Angeles).

Throw in Saturday night’s visit to Sacramento, and that’s three games in four nights. The Warriors embark on another three-games-in-four-nights trip Feb. 10, with stops in Memphis, Oklahoma City and Denver.

Forward Kevin Durant acknowledged this is probably the most demanding stretch of the season. So he and his teammates appreciate lighter days such as Tuesday.

“He’s good at knowing when guys need a little extra break, or when we need to go hard,” Durant said of Kerr. “He played, so he knows how it is. … That’s the beauty of the NBA — the grind, knowing it’s tough and pushing through it. We’re prepared for it.”

The Warriors went 14-2 in January, losing only to Memphis in overtime (Jan. 6 at home) and Miami by three points (Jan. 23 on the road). Their month included a memorable week in which they thrashed the Cavaliers, Thunder and Rockets in succession, by an average of 24.3 points.

So even if his players are dragging a bit, Kerr is happy with Golden State’s record (41-7) and its progress.

“Even though it might not be the highest energy level right now for our team, or any team, I feel like we’ve made really good strides,” Kerr said. “The exciting thing is, we can get even better. I’d like to get through the All-Star break in one piece.

“That’s such a great time for everybody to recharge their batteries. Besides the four guys going to New Orleans, the players are going to get a week off. I hope they go to Mexico or Hawaii, sip on a margarita and come back ready to roll.”

Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick

Wednesday’s game

Who: Hornets (23-25) at Warriors (41-7)

Where: Oracle Arena

When: 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: CSNBA/95.7