The Golden State Warriors faced a significant setback during Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. Star player Stephen Curry had to leave the game in the second quarter because of a strained left hamstring and did not come back. Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned that Curry is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday to determine how serious the strain is. As of now, there is no definite schedule for his return, but Kerr indicated it`s improbable that Curry will be able to play in Thursday night`s Game 2.
“We are certainly planning as if he won`t be available for Thursday, but we don`t know for sure yet,” Kerr stated. “With a hamstring issue, it`s tough to imagine him being ready to play on Thursday.”
Curry began the game strongly, scoring 13 points in his first 13 minutes during a game the Warriors eventually won by 11 points. After successfully making a three-pointer, Curry appeared to sustain the injury while on the defensive end of the court. He managed to stay in for a moment and even made another shot on Golden State`s next possession, but then requested to be substituted and went directly to the locker room with a noticeable limp.
“I spoke with him at halftime. He`s clearly disappointed,” Kerr shared about Curry after the Game 1 victory. “The team stepped up and played a great game. And obviously, we`re all concerned about Steph, but that`s just part of the sport. Players get injured, and you have to keep going. Our guys did an excellent job of pushing past it and getting a big win just 48 hours after winning a hard-fought Game 7 on the road. They are an amazing group of guys. They compete hard. They are united. They`ve had the best defense in the league since the [team changes] and that`s what is helping us stay competitive right now.”
A crucial factor here is the schedule: there`s only one rest day between games up to Game 5 of this series. This means even an absence of a week could potentially sideline Curry through Game 4. The series does have three days off scheduled between Game 5 (May 14) and Game 6 (May 18).
Even with a 1-0 lead, the Warriors are still considered underdogs against the Wolves while Curry`s health remains uncertain. They are hopeful for positive news from the MRI. Game 1 was their sixth game in just eleven days, following a physically demanding seven-game series in the first round against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were notably physical with Curry, who is 37 years old. These accumulated factors likely play a role in the situation.
It sounds like more details regarding Curry`s availability for Game 2 and potentially beyond will be known on Wednesday.
Jasper Hawthorne