Stephen Curry to miss at least 2 weeks with sprained ankle

CHARLOTTE — An MRI exam confirmed that Warriors guard Stephen Curry sustained a sprained right ankle in Monday night’s win over New Orleans.

The ankle is stable and structurally intact, a team spokesman told The Chronicle. Golden State will re-evaluate Curry in two weeks.

Barring a faster-than-expected recovery, the two-time MVP will not return to the court until at least Dec. 19 — a stretch of five games. Three of those are on the road (Wednesday in Charlotte, Friday in Detroit, Dec. 18 against the Lakers), with the two others coming at home (Dec. 11 against Portland and Dec. 14 against Dallas).

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry limps off the court to the locker room in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. The Warriors won 125-115. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) less Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry limps off the court to the locker room in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. The Warriors ... more Photo: Gerald Herbert, Associated Press Photo: Gerald Herbert, Associated Press Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Stephen Curry to miss at least 2 weeks with sprained ankle 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

With around a minute left in the Warriors’ 125-115 win Monday over the Pelicans, Curry lunged for a steal, missed and tried to stop himself from falling. His foot turned awkwardly, sending him tumbling. Curry climbed to his feet and limped toward the visitors’ locker room with a team trainer.

The Warriors will be careful not to let Curry play again before he is ready. For a team eyeing another championship push, the regular season is an 82-game prelude to the matchups that matter. There is no sense having Curry risk re-injury only to buoy Golden State’s chances of securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Warriors must now try to make up for the absence of a player who was in the early-season discussion for MVP. Through 23 games, Curry was averaging 26.3 points, 6.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

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With Curry out, Shaun Livingston will slide into the starting lineup. Quinn Cook, who is on a two-way deal with Golden State, has been recalled from the G League for added backcourt depth.

Check back with The Chronicle shortly for more on this story.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron