Things are not looking too golden in Golden State. Just days before the playoffs, Stephen Curry —the beating heart and soul of the franchise — exited Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a right thumb injury.
Stephen Curry Exits Early As Warriors’ Seeding Hopes Slip
What should have been an easy tune-up win matchup against the 35-45 Blazers has turned into a nightmare, as Curry appeared to jam his finger on a defender’s leg in the first half and headed straight to the Warriors locker room.
To add insult to injury, the timing could not be worse for Golden State. With playoff seeding hanging in the delicate balance of the Western Conference, the Warriors are teetering on the edge of the cliff. A recent dagger three from former teammate Harrison Barnes has already knocked the Warriors from a potential third seed to the brink of the play-in tournament.
Now, with Curry potentially sidelined, the stakes feel even higher.
To make matters even worse, Golden State is 0-3 all-time in the play-in tournament since its creation, and falling to the 7th or 8th seed could force the Warriors into a precarious win-or-go-home scenario right off the bat of the postseason.
The Warriors’ final regular season game is a must-win showdown against the Los Angeles Clippers, who sit just one game ahead. However, the Warriors are between a rock and a hard place — if miraculously, they do hang onto the 6th seed, they could face a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers’ big three in Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James.
Needless to say, Curry’s loss will be felt deeply. The future Hall of Famer has averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and six assists per game on the season, not to mention a late-season surge following the Jimmy Butler trade.
But his value extends far beyond the box score. Curry is and has always been the emotional center of the Warriors’ game, the locker room glue, and the heart of the team.
The Warriors were already fighting an uphill battle in a Western Conference that has effectively transformed into a gladiator pit.
Without Curry, that hill becomes Mt. Everest.
The Warriors are currently 47-33, 6th in the Western Conference. With playoff implications hanging in the balance, Warriors fans are left holding their breath as they await an injury report of their superstar.