The Golden State Warriors’ push for another deep NBA playoff run hit a tough snag this week. After stealing Game 1 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced Stephen Curry would miss at least a week with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. That injury kept Curry out of Game 2, and without him, the Warriors lost by 24 points.
With a big Game 3 coming up and the series momentum on the line, head coach Steve Kerr says he’s scrapping the usual rotation and giving others a shot.
Stephen Curry’s Injury Shifts Steve Kerr’s Strategies for the Warriors-Wolves Series
Early reports suggest Curry will be out through at least Game 4 of the series, forcing Kerr to adjust on the fly without the former league MVP.
“This is a completely different team without Steph,” Kerr said per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “Everything has to be about finding a new formula.”
The new rotation begins with two players who have spent much of the postseason riding the pine: Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Kuminga, 22, has long been considered one of Golden State’s most intriguing young talents. After logging 17, seven, and 13 minutes in his previous three playoff appearances, Kuminga exploded in the Game 2 loss, finishing with 18 points in 26 minutes. Kuminga gave the Warriors the offensive spark desperately needed with Curry sidelined.
It was a performance the Warriors faithful have been waiting for. And for Kuminga, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer, the late-season bloom could be life-changing monetarily. With all eyes on the biggest stage, Kuminga’s play could shape his free agency market value this summer. From the Warriors’ front office perspective, a dominant Kuminga playoff run could make the forward a more appealing trade asset to acquire more pieces around Curry to extend their contention window.
Kerr also confirmed Jackson-Davis will be part of the Game 3 rotation. The 25-year-old center has shown flashes during his first two seasons in the league, and his physicality could be key against Minnesota’s frontcourt.
“(TJD) showed he can be effective against this team,” Kerr said.
The Warriors won the regular season series 3–1 against the Timberwolves, including a 115–88 win in January. But this is a different Warriors squad without Curry. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards hasn’t had a breakout game yet either, but he’s still been a threat. Edwards has hit just 20 of his last 54 shots over the past three games, returning to the first round.
For Golden State, Game 3 at Chase Center isn’t just about staying alive—it’s a test of who they are without their leader.
Can Kuminga do enough to cement his spot in the rotation even when Curry returns? Can Jackson-Davis disrupt the Timberwolves’ frontcourt and boost the Warriors on the interior? Will Kerr find enough production off the bench to patch together a rotation that keeps Golden State’s title hopes alive?
There’s no Curry to save them this time. The next man up mentality is real now, and so is the desperation level in the Bay.