These more manageable mechanics replacements come in light of news that star Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss at least one week due to an injury. He tweaked his left hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. The injury happened late in the second quarter of the tightly contested game, which the Warriors were ultimately able to take home, 99-88. In perspective, Curry’s absence isn’t just a huge blow to the team as they move along the playoffs—it’s massive.
In the match, Curry found a way to rack up 13 points in 13 minutes of action. He suffered the injury while making a driving 14-foot floater with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter. Following the play, he immediately grabbed his left leg. He waved over to the bench, informing them that he was in need of an exit from the game. He remained on the court for 29 additional seconds, long after play had been stopped. Next, he walked straight back toward the locker room.
This injury is huge. It will be the first missed playoff game for Curry since the 2018 Western Conference finals, when he was playing through a knee injury. Coach Steve Kerr indicated that the team would proceed under the assumption that Curry would be unavailable for at least Thursday’s Game 2 against the Timberwolves.
It’s this finicky quality of hamstring injuries that requires us to be careful, Kerr stated. We won’t rush him back.
Curry’s return schedule depends primarily on how he responds to rehab. All of that comes after what some are referring to as his first professional muscle strain. With no news yet about Game 2, his absence is almost guaranteed to stretch at least through Game 4 on Monday, May 14. The Warriors still have Game 5 on May 18—and, if they can avoid tripping over their own feet and forcing it, Game 6 on May 20—to play.
Furthermore, the news of Curry’s injury has resulted in outrage and confusion from players around the league. Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler III expressed his admiration for Curry, saying, “I think we all want [No.] 30 back, that is for sure.”
Readiness is the Warriors’ best preparation for long odds. They’ll need to regroup in a hurry, though, as they’ll be without the services of their top scorer and assist man. It’s a time of concern and hope for fans and analysts alike, as attention now turns to Curry’s rehabilitation with hopes of a speedy recovery.
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