Stephen Curry's Injury: A Major Setback for the Warriors
In a significant blow to the Golden State Warriors, their star player Stephen Curry was forced to leave the court during Wednesday's nail-biting 104-100 NBA Cup defeat against the Houston Rockets. The team has confirmed that Curry is scheduled for an MRI scan to assess the severity of a right quad contusion, an injury that has immediately raised concerns about his availability for upcoming games.
A Painful Exit and Immediate Concerns
The worrying moment came late in the fourth quarter when Curry was seen hobbling off the floor, visibly in discomfort. He eventually limped to the locker room with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock. The injury occurred after a series of hard collisions during the game. Earlier, Houston center Alperen Şengün stunned Curry with a powerful screen, and in the fourth quarter, Rockets' Amen Thompson knocked the four-time NBA champion down with a shoulder charge during a drive to the basket.
Despite struggling with his shooting and committing seven turnovers, Curry still managed to contribute 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists in his 33 minutes on the court. His departure has left a gaping hole in the Warriors' lineup, adding pressure to a team that has now lost four of its last five games, bringing their season record to an even 10-10.
Team Reaction and the Road Ahead
Following the loss in San Francisco, Warriors' head coach expressed a glimmer of relief, stating, "When I heard it was a quad, I was actually relieved… Better than an ankle or a knee. So, hopefully he can recover quickly and be okay, but we gotta hold down the fort." This sentiment highlights the precarious position the team finds itself in.
The locker room mood was somber. Rookie Will Richardson acknowledged the challenge ahead, telling reporters, "That's a challenge, if Steph is out everybody else has to kind of improve their game a lot to fill that void." Veteran Jimmy Butler delivered a more pointed critique, calling it "just sad" to see the team disregard its strategy. He urged his teammates to "care more" about the details, emphasizing that without their star player, they would have to be "damn near perfect."
The Warriors' next challenge is a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Curry's exact return timeline is unknown and hinges entirely on the results of the MRI. This season, the team's performance without him has been poor, with a record of only 1-3 in his absence and an offensive rating that ranks a lowly 22nd in the league. If Curry is sidelined, reserve guard Brandin Podziemski is expected to see an increase in his playing time.
This season, the 37-year-old Curry has been in stellar form, averaging 27.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.7 rebounds across the 16 games he has started. His potential absence poses a serious threat to the Warriors' campaign, forcing the rest of the squad to step up in a major way.
