The Golden State Warriors are beginning a three-game trek away from the bay. Unfortunately, they’ll have to do it without their star player, Steph Curry, who badly hurt his left quadriceps in a surprising home loss to the Houston Rockets last Wednesday night. According to Ramona Shelburne, the All-Star point guard was slated to have his injury re-evaluated on Thursday. Even then, head coach Steve Kerr said it’s a “long shot” for Curry to make it back by the weekend.
With Curry out, he’ll miss at least five games. He’s returned to the Bay Area, where he is still undergoing treatment. This most recent blow follows a trend of injuries that have plagued him all year, including previous bouts with ankle and back soreness earlier this season. Despite this, Kerr expressed optimism regarding Curry’s recovery, suggesting he could be back for the Warriors’ home game next Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the meantime, the Warriors will have their toughest stretch to date with or without their top offensive player. The squad is just 11-11 through 22 games, having found consistency elusive in the season’s infancy. As the Celtics prep for their long West Coast road trip, they should continue to watch Jimmy Butler’s status with a hawkeye level of focus. The Miami Heat star just showcased a dubious glute contusion. Butler was seen down during a huddle with just a minute left before halftime, raising concerns about his availability for the road trip.
At least the Warriors had one thing to be happy about in Seth Curry’s debut. He made an immediate impact, scoring 14 points in just 14 minutes off the bench. His performance offers a glimmer of hope as the team seeks to fill the void left by his brother’s absence.
The upcoming road trip presents a significant challenge for Golden State, especially given their current record and the form of their opponents. Shortly thereafter, the Oklahoma City Thunder were on stage and blowing everyone away. Rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge on Tuesday night, dropping a remarkable 38 points while helping the team to a phenomenal 21-1 record this season.
As the Warriors look to regroup and find success on the road, they will have four days off after this trip, along with two practices to refine their strategies and improve team chemistry. That makes the next six games very important as the team tries to pick up some pieces and build some positive momentum heading into Curry’s return.
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