NBA: Curry Out With Hamstring Strain

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss at least one week of the playoffs after he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.

The Warriors announced Curry’s status after he underwent an MRI yesterday, saying he will be reevaluated in one week.

An exact return timeline will be based on how Curry responds to rehab with his first career muscle strain, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Curry suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Warriors’ 99-88 Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday.

He is set to be out through at least Game 4 on Monday. After that, Game 5 would be on May 14, followed by three days off before Game 6 on May 18, with Game 7 on May 20.

“He’s obviously crushed,” coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday’s win. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game, and obviously we’re all concerned about Steph but it’s part of the game.”

After Curry scored on a driving 14-foot floater with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter, he could be seen grabbing at his left leg. He signaled to the bench to come out but remained in the game for 29 seconds before play was stopped. Curry then walked straight to the locker room, finishing the game with 13 points in 13 minutes.

Curry will miss his first playoff game since the 2018 Western Conference semifinals, when he had a knee injury.

“I think we all want [No.] 30 back, that is for sure,” Jimmy Butler III said Tuesday. “But we want him to do his best for himself, best for our group. Until then, we can hold down the fort. I know we can.”

Following the news of Curry’s injury timeline, the Timberwolves odds to win the series moved from -165 to -200 at ESPN BET. The Warriors are now a +170 underdog.

Minnesota is now a 10.5-point favorite for Game 2, five points more than the Timberwolves were favored by for Game 1.

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Niger Tornadoes’ Goalkeeper Iwu against Abia Warriors player at Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna yesterday.  Photo by Gbenga Folorunsho Abiola