In a gripping finish on March 15, 2024, the Golden State Warriors faced a setback as star player Stephen Curry exited the game with a right quad contusion during the final minute of a narrow 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets. The Warriors now await the results of an MRI to assess the severity of Curry’s injury, which occurred after he was involved in multiple collisions in the fourth quarter.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed a sense of relief regarding the nature of the injury, stating, “When I heard it was a quad, I was actually relieved. Better than an ankle or a knee.” Curry’s injury followed a series of physical plays, including a charge attempt where he was elbowed by Rockets guard Amen Thompson. Despite being penalized for a blocking foul, Curry appeared to be in significant discomfort as the game progressed.
Implications for the Warriors
During a crucial timeout with just over 35 seconds left on the clock and the Warriors trailing by five points, Curry consulted with Rick Celebrini, the team’s head medical official. Celebrini signaled to the bench that Curry would not return, prompting him to head to the locker room.
Reflecting on Curry’s potential absence, Kerr noted, “If Steph has to miss [time], it obviously changes everything—our rotations, how we’re playing, who we are playing through. We’ll see.” This injury could significantly impact the Warriors, who now sit at a .500 record of 10-10 after a promising start of 4-1.
The loss to Houston also highlighted ongoing concerns about the team’s defensive performance. Players Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green criticized the Warriors’ lack of execution, with Butler stating, “We don’t box out… We let anybody do whatever they want.” Despite the Rockets struggling with their shooting, making only 39 out of 99 attempts, they capitalized on Golden State’s weaknesses by securing 25 offensive rebounds.
Defensive Struggles and Team Dynamics
Green, despite the Warriors having a respectable defensive rating of 112.2, which ranks 10th in the league, expressed frustration over the team’s overall demeanor. “It’s just letdown after letdown,” he said. “Defense is about demeanor. If there’s letdown, it kills your demeanor; it kills your bravado. Then you’re just a soft team.” He emphasized that the issues transcended statistics, focusing on the team’s mentality during games.
Both Green and Butler have previously criticized individual agendas within the team, with Green stating that “everyone likes to twist words.” He added, “We are individually… f—ing awful.” This sentiment resonates as the team struggles to maintain momentum in a competitive league.
While the Warriors grapple with this latest setback, there is a glimmer of hope with forward Jonathan Kuminga nearing a return. He participated in a scrimmage on Wednesday and aims to be ready for the upcoming home game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Nonetheless, with Curry’s status uncertain pending MRI results, the Warriors may need to adapt quickly. Butler commented, “We’re going to have to be damn near perfect [without Curry]. We aren’t going to have the ultimate bailout on our team.”
As the Warriors navigate this challenging period, the resilience and adaptability of the players will be put to the test as they aim to regain their winning form.
