The Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry might be looking at trouble as they begin Round 2 Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The cornerstone of the Warriors’ offense, Curry is pivotal in every playoff win.
However, Curry might be looking at some missed games after an early first-half exit in Game 1.
Stephen Curry’s Concerning Exit at Round 2 Game 1 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves
During the first half, Curry was seen grabbing his hamstring as he played on. The four-time NBA Champion was in visible pain, his movement affected as the team carried on and maintained their lead against Anthony Edwards’ Wolves.
Steph Curry went to the locker room after an apparent leg injury pic.twitter.com/xS3D5mW5Vo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
However, Curry decided to exit the game minutes before the first half ended.
Steph just went straight to the locker room after appearing to grab his hamstring and asked out of the game pic.twitter.com/3yZaUFAPeO
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame)
Though Curry tried to play on, he decided to head to the locker room.
Cameras caught Curry hobbling off the court, assuring Draymond Green that he’s alright before exiting.
Curry’s injury was confirmed later, a left hamstring strain ruling him out for the remainder of the game.
Of course, Curry was formidable against the Wolves before sitting out. Playing 13 minutes in total, Curry scored 13 points, one assist, and one rebound while shooting 5-9 from the field.
Green stepped up immediately, continuing his relentless pace by scoring 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists at halftime.
Fans were understandably upset at the injury, worrying about Curry’s well-being and return.
Curry Return Timeline: When Can the Warriors Star Play Again?
As of now, there’s no fixed return timeline for Curry’s injury. The NBA icon has been dealing with injuries this playoffs and during the regular season, possibly increasing his chances of an extended absence.
Quick 🧵on hamstring strains for #DubNation re: the Stephen Curry news.
1. Important thing to understand is that a "strain" is some degree of tearing of the hamstring muscle.
2. Return to play is determined by grade (grade 1 = micro tear, grade 2 = partial tear, grade 3 =…
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya)
Dr. Nirav Pandya, professor of UCSF Orthopedic Surgery, spoke about Curry’s injury and possible return. As per Pandya, a strain means there’s tearing of the hamstring muscle, and Curry’s return will depend on the degree of the tear.
- Grade 1: Micro tear.
- Grade 2: Partial tear
- Grade 3: Complete tear.
That being said, it could be weeks before Curry is cleared to play again. Mild/Grade 1 injury could mean a week to three off, extending to a possible six-plus weeks injury if it’s extreme.
However, there’s a chance that Curry returns sooner than expected.
‘We did a study (below) looking at these injuries in NBA players over a 5 year period and the mean time missed was ~ 6 games. This doesn’t mean that Curry can’t be back sooner but it’s all based on the factors above,” Pandya wrote.
READ: Stephen Curry Confirms Crucial Update on Lingering Thumb Injury Ahead of Timberwolves Clash
A possible six-game absence for Curry could be brutal for the Warriors, most likely leading to postseason elimination without their star player.
Earlier, Curry was playing Round 1 against the Houston Rockets with a thumb injury.