Hamstring strain recovery timeline: How soon could Warriors star Stephen Curry return in NBA playoffs?

During Game 1 against the Timberwolves, Stephen Curry suffered a hamstring injury that forced him out of the game after just 13 minutes of action.

The injury happened early in the game, but Golden State quickly ruled him out before halftime even arrived. While the Warriors had to find a way to regroup without their best player for the rest of the game, the ramifications of the injury extend beyond Tuesday night.

The Warriors' chances at winning this series and making another championship run likely rely on how serious Curry's injury is. While Golden State competed well during Game 1, it will be hard for the team to keep it up the longer they are without their point guard.

So, how long will Curry be out? Here's a breakdown.

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Hamstring strain recovery timeline

Typically, hamstring strain recovery times depend on how severe the strain is. Curry has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Golden State expects its superstar to be out for at least one week.

According to several doctors, Grade 1 strains usually last around 10 days, which would be 4-6 games during a regular season schedule. If that's the case for Curry, he would be at risk of missing most of the second-round series vs. Minnesota, with a chance to return the longer the series lasts.

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However, more serious versions of the injury lead to longer recovery times. A Grade 2 strain would have cost Curry closer to a month of action and a Grade 3 hamstring strain comes with a months-long timeline.

Severity of the strain will ultimately dictate how much time Steph Curry potentially misses. Average time lost for confirmed G1 strain is ~10 days. That jumps to ~31 days for G2 strains. Time lost for nondescript strains is ~12 days.

Charania reported that Curry has been on the mend over the past few days, being limited to just treatment since he first strained his hamstring. He'll was reevaluated on Wednesday, with the Warriors announcing that he's making "good progress" on his recovery. He was only cleared to feature in light on-court workouts, including shooting drills, so he'll miss out on Game 5.

Golden State's medical team will reevaluate his status on Saturday, May 17. Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals would be on Sunday, May 18, assuming the Warriors pushed the series that far.

meaning he's a certainty to miss the next few games. Charania said the earliest Curry could return is Game 6, which will be held four days after Game 5.

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Stephen Curry injury history

It is worth noting that, while Curry has had his share of injuries throughout his career, he typically has avoided hamstring injuries.

This is Curry's first known hamstring injury since entering the league in 2009, so it's tough to tell how his body will respond to the injury.