Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry will miss at least two weeks of NBA action after an MRI confirmed a tear in his oblique abdominal muscle, the team announced Thursday. Curry exited Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets in the first quarter due to the injury and is now expected to be reevaluated in 14 days.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr had previously expressed a high level of concern about Curry’s condition, noting that the injury was unlike anything Curry had dealt with before. Kerr stated, “Concern is high, but I have no idea the extent of the injury.” Curry, who entered the game averaging 30.6 points per game and 45.7% shooting from three-point range, left the court after making a single 3-pointer and visibly reacting to pain in his right side.
Warriors to proceed without Curry
The Warriors, who had won eight consecutive games before the injury, will face the San Antonio Spurs Friday night without Curry. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored 25 points and 10 rebounds in Curry’s absence Wednesday, is expected to continue filling the void. Lendeborg, averaging 21.7 points over 12 games, has drawn praise from veteran players, including Kevin Durant, who called him “a different level of athlete.”
Team and league reactions
Golden State forward Draymond Green acknowledged the impact of Curry’s absence, stating, “Obviously, when he’s out, it changes a lot.” The Warriors, who went 13-26 in the 39 games Curry missed last season due to a knee injury, will rely on a deeper rotation to compensate. Reserve point guard Brandon Williams, who has also been sidelined with a hamstring strain, remains unavailable.
Medical timeline and expectations
The Warriors initially announced Curry would miss at least two weeks, with a reevaluation scheduled after 14 days. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that Curry’s timeline could extend to closer to one month, with Warriors officials bracing for a double-digit game total missed. The team’s medical staff, including director of medical services Drew Yoder, is overseeing Curry’s recovery, which includes rehab tailored to the severity of the tear.
Warriors’ immediate outlook
Despite the setback, the Warriors remain competitive. Lendeborg and fellow guard Brandin Podziemski (22 points Wednesday) have shown promise in Curry’s absence, while the team continues a five-game road trip. The injury comes as Golden State aims to build on its 8-4 start to the season, a stretch that included a franchise-record eight straight wins before the Rockets’ victory Wednesday.
Curry’s season performance
Curry, in his 18th NBA season, had been performing at an elite level, ranking second in the league in scoring and shooting 50.3% from the field and 45.7% from three before the injury. His absence leaves a significant void in both scoring and leadership, though the Warriors’ depth and youth movement provide a potential silver lining for the franchise.