Curry Out at Least One Week with Hamstring Strain, Warriors Face Test

Stephen Curry will miss at least one week with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, potentially altering the trajectory of Golden State’s playoff run. The Warriors’ superstar was forced to exit during the second quarter of Tuesday’s Game 1 victory over Minnesota, dealing a significant blow to a team that had just survived a grueling seven-game series against Houston.

“This is new, and from all that I’m learning about how quickly you can get back, there has to be a healing process,” Curry told reporters during Thursday’s shootaround. “You can’t accelerate it more than what it’s telling you.” The Warriors announced Wednesday that their 37-year-old point guard will be re-evaluated after Game 4 on Monday, according to CBS Sports.

Warriors Must Navigate Tricky Recovery Timeline

The earliest Curry could potentially return would be Game 5 on May 14, followed by a three-day break before Game 6 on May 18. This extended rest period could prove crucial for his recovery, but the Warriors must first stay competitive without their floor general in Games 2, 3, and 4.

Hamstring injuries are particularly challenging for basketball players, especially ones with Curry’s movement-heavy playing style. “I know how tricky hamstrings can be where they can fool you and think that it’s healed even if you don’t feel anything,” Curry explained, noting this is his first hamstring injury of his career, according to ESPN.

Team History Without Their Superstar

Golden State has historically performed well without Curry in limited playoff samples, going 9-3 when he’s unable to suit up. However, this marks their first playoff game without him since 2018, when they had both Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant available to pick up the scoring load.

In Tuesday’s Game 1, the Warriors responded impressively to Curry’s absence, extending a 10-point lead when he exited into an eventual 99-88 victory. Jimmy Butler stepped into the primary playmaking role with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, while Draymond Green contributed 18 points and connected on four three-pointers.

Emotional Impact on Veteran Star

The timing of this injury has hit Curry particularly hard emotionally. At 37, the four-time NBA champion is keenly aware that his championship opportunities are becoming increasingly limited, making this setback especially frustrating.

“Fight through the last two months of the season, a hard first round that you get through a Game 7,” Curry said. “The way that we were playing, and I was playing individually, that first half, I was starting to feel really, really good about where we were at, and then you kind of get a gut punch like that. So it was really emotional at first.”

Butler and Supporting Cast Must Step Up

Coach Steve Kerr will rely heavily on Butler to orchestrate the offense and maintain the team’s competitive edge. After Tuesday’s game, Butler acknowledged Curry’s importance while expressing confidence in the team’s ability to manage temporarily without him, saying, “We want Steph back, I’ll tell you that. It’s hard playing without that man.”

The Warriors also received valuable contributions from Buddy Hield, who scored 24 points and hit five three-pointers in Game 1. Maintaining this balanced attack will be crucial as they attempt to extend their series lead in Minneapolis on Thursday.