Stephen Curry Injury Update: Will He Miss Game 2 vs Timberwolves?

The Golden State Warriors might have won Game 1, but the bigger storyline came midway through the second quarter. Stephen Curry, the heart and soul of this team, walked off the court with a strained left hamstring and never returned. Now, everyone is holding their breath, waiting for Wednesday’s MRI to reveal just how bad it is.

Let’s break this all down in simple terms, with a real, human look at what this means for Curry, the Warriors, and this playoff series.

What happened to Stephen Curry in Game 1?

Steph started the night on fire. He put up 13 points in just 13 minutes and looked like he was in rhythm. Then, things took a scary turn. Right after hitting a three-pointer, he ran back on defense and appeared to tweak something in his leg. He stayed in for a bit, even made another quick bucket, but the next thing we saw was Steph walking gingerly to the locker room. Just like that, he was done for the night.

Coach Steve Kerr said after the game that Curry had a strained hamstring and would get an MRI on Wednesday. The tone didn’t feel overly optimistic. “We’re definitely game-planning for him to not be available on Thursday,” Kerr said. “It’s hard to imagine that he would play with a hamstring injury.”

How serious is a hamstring strain?

Hamstrings can be tricky. If it’s mild, it might just take a few days of rest and rehab. But if it’s a more serious strain, we could be looking at a week or even longer. That’s a real problem because this series moves fast. Games are scheduled almost every other day through Game 5. So if Steph is out even for one week, he could miss Games 2, 3, and 4.

That would be a major blow for the Warriors, especially against a strong Minnesota team that plays physical and defends well.

How did the Warriors respond without Curry?

To their credit, the Warriors rallied. They pulled off an 11-point win just 48 hours after a brutal seven-game battle against the Houston Rockets. It’s not easy to bounce back that fast, especially when your star player goes down mid-game.

But this group is tough. They’ve been through it all together. Kerr gave them their flowers after the game, saying, “It’s an amazing group of guys. They compete. They’re together.”

And he’s right. This team has leaned heavily on its defense ever since that big trade brought in Jimmy Butler. They’ve become one of the best defensive teams in the league over the last few months. That toughness is what’s holding them together right now.

What’s the outlook for Game 2?

At this point, it’s pretty safe to say Curry won’t suit up for Game 2. Even the coach doesn’t sound hopeful. And honestly, rushing back from a hamstring injury is never a good idea. The last thing anyone wants is for Steph to come back too soon and make it worse.

So now, it’s about adjusting. Guys like Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole will need to step up and carry the load offensively. They’ve all done it before. But the margin for error is smaller without Steph out there drawing defenders and creating chaos.

Could Curry miss more than one game?

It’s very possible. Remember, Curry is 37 now. The older you get, the longer it takes to bounce back from injuries like this. And this wasn’t just any stretch of games. This was Game 6 in just 11 days. His body has taken a beating, especially in that first-round slugfest against the Rockets.

If he’s out for a full week, that means he misses three games in this series. That could flip everything. Even with that Game 1 win, the Warriors would have a tough hill to climb without their leader.

Is there any good news for the Warriors?

Yes, there is a small silver lining. If Curry can manage to come back by Game 5, there are three days off between Game 5 and Game 6. That could give him a real chance to rest and return if the injury isn’t too serious.

Also, the team showed in Game 1 that they’re not going to roll over just because their best player is hurt. They’re battle-tested. They’ve won before without Steph. It’s not ideal, but it’s not hopeless either.

Can the Warriors survive without Steph?

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Losing Curry in the middle of a playoff series is a nightmare. He’s the engine that makes this team go. But the Warriors have been here before. They know how to fight.

Now it comes down to depth, defense, and determination. We’ll know more once the MRI results come out on Wednesday. Until then, all the Warriors can do is prepare like he won’t be there and hope that someone else steps up.

This series just got a whole lot more interesting. Stay tuned.

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