Stephen Curry Strains Hamstring in Warriors’ Victory/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Stephen Curry exited early from Game 1 of the Warriors-Timberwolves playoff series with a left hamstring strain, casting doubt on his availability moving forward. Despite his absence, Golden State secured a 99-88 road victory, backed by a strong team effort. An MRI on Wednesday will determine Curry’s status for Game 2.
Curry Injury Quick Looks
- Curry left early in second quarter with a hamstring strain.
- He tallied 13 points in 13 minutes before exiting.
- MRI scheduled for Wednesday; Game 2 status uncertain.
- Warriors overcame his absence to defeat Timberwolves 99-88.
- Coach Steve Kerr praised team resilience after Curry’s injury.
- Jimmy Butler led the way with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists.
- Curry played 70 games this season after recent injury-plagued years.
- Game 2 set for Thursday with only one day of rest.
- Warriors still energized after Game 7 win over Houston.
Deep Look: Warriors Win Without Curry, Await MRI Update on Hamstring Injury
The Golden State Warriors opened their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 99-88 victory Tuesday night, but the win came at a cost: star guard Stephen Curry exited in the second quarter with a left hamstring strain, leaving his status for the rest of the series in doubt.
Curry, 37, began showing signs of discomfort shortly after sinking a 26-foot step-back three-pointer early in the second quarter. Moments later, after hitting a 14-foot floater to put the Warriors ahead 27-20, he signaled to the bench that he needed to come out. A Timberwolves timeout allowed Curry to exit the game and head to the locker room under his own power. He finished with 13 points in just 13 minutes on 5-of-9 shooting.
Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed after the game that Curry will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. While listed as day-to-day, Kerr admitted that Curry is unlikely to suit up for Game 2 on Thursday.
“He’s obviously crushed,” Kerr said in his postgame remarks. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game. Obviously we’re all concerned about Steph, but that’s part of the game. Guys get hurt, and you move on. Our guys did a great job of moving on.”
Curry’s absence didn’t derail the Warriors’ momentum. Riding high after a grueling Game 7 win over Houston just 48 hours earlier, the team rallied around the loss of their leader. Draymond Green acknowledged the emotional hit but praised Curry’s early contributions.
“A little deflating, but we knew he did a great job of helping us build a comfortable lead,” Green said.
Jimmy Butler stepped up in Curry’s absence, recording 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. The veteran guard credited the team’s coaching staff and unity for the win.
“We have the best coaching staff in the NBA,” Butler said. “We know they’ll put us in a good spot. We all want ‘30’ back. Until then, we can all hold down the fort.”
Curry’s health has been under the microscope in recent seasons. After struggling with various hand and foot injuries from 2018 to 2021, he has managed to remain relatively healthy the past two years, playing in 74 games last season and 70 this year. He averaged 24 points per game in the Warriors’ first-round series against the Rockets, where Golden State recovered from blowing a 3-1 lead to win in seven games.
The tight playoff schedule offers little recovery time. Games 1 through 5 of the Warriors-Timberwolves series are spaced with just one rest day in between. If the series extends, there will be a longer three-day break between Games 5 and 6.
For now, the Warriors will need to find ways to win without their all-time leading scorer and emotional anchor. With the MRI results pending, Golden State faces the prospect of advancing without Curry at the helm — a daunting, though not impossible, task for the four-time NBA champions.
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