NEWS of a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament strain means Steph Curry will almost certainly miss the first round of the NBA playoffs but should return for the Finals, provided the Golden State Warriors can advance without him.

Curry’s left knee, injured when a teammate fell on him, will heal without surgery.

But there is, by definition, a ligament tear.

A moderate sprain (Grade 2) typically means missing 4-6 weeks. Given basketball’s requirements for not just running but side-to-side cutting, it could be longer, however, until he is 100 percent.

The MCL is responsible for stabilizing the knee for lateral movement and cutting. It is imperative for playing offense and defense in the NBA.

In 2016, Curry suffered a similar MCL sprain, but it was his other (right) knee and a milder (Grade 1) sprain.

That was incurred due to a slip rather than direct contact, like this instance. The initial estimate for the previous injury was two weeks, and he returned in two weeks. (He was injured in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs and returned for Game 4 of the second round.)

This time, the left knee is worse and won’t even be re-evaluated for 3 weeks.

A re-evaluation is just that. The earliest possible return is at that point, but that is certainly not likely.

The best-case scenario is a return after four weeks. The worst-case scenario is eight weeks.

Given that the playoffs begin in mid-April, Curry will miss postseason games. The Finals begin May 31 — more than two months from now. Curry will not miss the Finals unless the Warriors are eliminated.

A second- or third-round return is likely, depending on if the team (and Curry) will let him play at less than 100 percent.

If they are waiting for a full recovery, it could be longer, though even then he would be back at some point before the Finals, which end no later than June 17.

The good news is he avoided the more serious ACL injury.

(SD-Agencies)