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18 hours ago
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There’s no question that the Golden State Warriors’ hearts dropped on Tuesday when their top contributor, Stephen Curry, exited their Game 1 Western Conference semifinals contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a hamstring injury.
With the Dubs possessing an early 25-20 second-quarter lead, Curry received an off-ball screen and finished a runner in the lane to extend their advantage to seven points.
Unfortunately, the four-time NBA champion was visibly in pain after the successful basket, prompting him to prematurely depart the contest and visit the Warriors’ locker room.
Curry failed to appear in the game after halftime. Still, the Warriors secured a pivotal 99-88 victory to begin the series, thanks to Buddy Hield, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler’s 62 combined points.
Golden State will need a healthy Curry to achieve its ultimate goal this season, but a recent MRI update indicates the 37-year-old phenomenon could be sidelined for multiple contests.
"Golden State's Stephen Curry has sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and will be ruled out for Game 2 against Minnesota on Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday. “It's the first strained muscle of Curry's career, so exact return timetable is unclear due to first rehab like this.”
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A few minutes later, Charania gave the public a new update on Curry’s injury status.
"The Warriors expect Stephen Curry to miss at least one week with the Grade 1 left hamstring strain,” Charania added. An exact return will be based on how their All-NBA guard responds to rehab with his first muscle strain.”
The news may have been discouraging initially, but a Professor of UCSF Orthopedic Surgery revealed that a Grade 1 hamstring strain isn’t the end of the world for Curry and the Warriors.
"A Grade 1 hamstring strain is positive news for Warriors fans and Dub Nation,” Dr. Nirav Pandaya wrote on X/Twitter.”
"A Grade 1 sprain = microscopic tearing which is much better than the more significant tearing that occurs with a Grade 2 or 3. How he responds to treatment, the MRI specifics (location, muscles involved, etc) will likely determine his RTP with the medical staff.”
Considering Curry’s game is predicated on making sharp cuts, darting off screens, and dancing with the ball on the perimeter, it won’t be easy for the do-it-all point guard to perform at his preferred level upon potentially returning to the hardwood.
However, it wouldn’t be wise to count out the most talented three-point shooter ever to play the game of basketball, regardless of the circumstances.
More NBA: Warriors star Stephen Curry could miss significant time with hamstring injury, per doctor
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