Stephen Curry out for at least three games with hamstring strain as Warriors face Timberwolves in West semis
Curry exited early in the second quarter of the series opener, but not before contributing 13 points in just 13 minutes
The Golden State Warriors will be without superstar guard Stephen Curry for at least the next three games of their second-round NBA Playoffs series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The announcement comes after an MRI on Wednesday confirmed a mild strain in Curry’s left hamstring, which he sustained during Game 1 on Tuesday night.
Curry exited early in the second quarter of the series opener, but not before contributing 13 points in just 13 minutes. His explosive start helped the Warriors build a comfortable lead en route to a 99-88 road victory, stealing home-court advantage from the Timberwolves in the process.
According to the team, Curry will be reevaluated in a week, making Game 5 on May 14 in San Francisco the earliest possible return date. That would be followed by three off-days before a potential Game 6 on May 18.
Despite the setback, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remains optimistic.
“Every year the playoffs are about adapting — whether it’s a game plan or an injury or a lineup — so we just have to adapt,” Kerr said. “We’ve done this before, and we’re confident we can do this again.”
Golden State has a history of navigating playoff injuries successfully. In 2016 and 2018, the team went a combined 9-3 without Curry during postseason stretches, eventually reaching the NBA Finals both years.
However, this current Warriors roster differs significantly from those championship teams. With Curry and Draymond Green older and Klay Thompson no longer at his peak, the supporting cast must shoulder a heavier burden.
Back then, they had the likes of Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala. Today, the team will turn to players like Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield, and Draymond Green to fill the void.
In Game 1, Butler led the way with a near triple-double posting 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Acquired from the Miami Heat three months ago, Butler’s impact on both ends of the floor has been transformative.
Meanwhile, Buddy Hield stepped up as an aggressive scoring option, giving the Warriors multiple threats to offset Curry’s absence.
Kerr employed a deep rotation, using 12 players in Game 1 to spread the workload and maintain defensive intensity.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, know they face a different kind of challenge without Curry on the floor. Speaking after Game 1, Minnesota guard Mike Conley highlighted Golden State’s unpredictability.
“Everybody is live. They’re not looking for just Curry now,” Conley said. “Buddy’s going to be more aggressive, Jimmy’s going to be more aggressive. But they’ve got guys who can put the ball in the hole, and they may try to do that collectively as a group.”
Game 2 tips off Thursday night in Minneapolis, before the series shifts to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4 over the weekend.
Report by Kelvin Papa Sackey for Asaase News
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