Just as things were heating up for the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, they were dealt a blow that sent a chill down the spine of Dub Nation. Stephen Curry, the heartbeat of the franchise, suffered a left hamstring strain in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and is expected to miss at least a week, the team confirmed Wednesday.
Curry exited Tuesday night’s game midway through the second quarter after scoring 13 points in as many minutes. He appeared to tweak his leg after a routine floater, then signaled to the bench and limped straight to the locker room. An MRI later revealed a Grade 1 strain—mild, but enough to sideline him for the next stretch of the series.
What’s Next: A Crucial Stretch Without Steph
With Games 2, 3, and 4 on the immediate horizon—and the first two on enemy turf in Minneapolis—the Warriors face a challenging road ahead. Curry’s earliest possible return would be for Game 5 on May 14, though that depends entirely on how his rehab progresses.
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the emotional weight of the injury.
“He’s obviously crushed,” Kerr said postgame. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game. We’ll do everything we can to hold it down until he’s back.”
Golden State Steps Up in Game 1
Even with their leader sidelined, the Warriors showed poise. Draymond Green turned in a vintage all-around performance, locking down Anthony Edwards defensively while chipping in 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Newly acquired veteran Jimmy Butler flirted with a triple-double, and Buddy Hield poured in 24 points to help secure a gritty 99-88 win and steal home-court advantage from the Wolves.
A New Chapter of Playoff Adversity
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Golden State. Curry missed key games during playoff runs in both 2016 and 2018. But back then, the Warriors were armed with the likes of a younger Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Kevin Durant.
This version of the team is more fragile—leaner, older, and more dependent on Curry’s offensive magic. With the Timberwolves hungry to respond in Game 2, Golden State’s supporting cast must continue to carry the load.
Hamstring strains are notoriously tricky. For Curry, who has battled numerous injuries throughout his career but never a hamstring issue, the next week will be pivotal.
Golden State will be cautious—because any setback could mean more than just losing a series. It could shift the long-term trajectory of their playoff hopes entirely.
Final Word
Stephen Curry’s injury casts a long shadow over what was shaping up to be a tightly contested Western Conference series. But if there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s this: never count out the Warriors—even without their wizard at the helm.
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