Stephen Curry Injury: How Long Is Steph Curry Expected To Be Sidelined?
- Swati Bhatia
- 3 min read
The Golden State Warriors just took another hit in what has already been a rough season. Stephen Curry went down with a quad contusion on Wednesday night, adding to the team’s growing concerns.
The injury comes at a tough time for the Warriors, who are trying to find rhythm and move up the Western Conference standings.
Curry suffered the injury late in the loss against the Houston Rockets, leaving the game and not returning. It puts the Warriors in a difficult spot as they enter an important stretch of the schedule.
Up next are matchups with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder, games that could shape the direction of their season.
1. How long is Steph Curry expected to be sidelined?
According to Shams Charania, the Warriors’ superstar is expected to miss at least a week due to the quad contusion he suffered on Wednesday. The good news for the Warriors is that Curry is believed to have avoided a serious injury. His return will depend on how quickly the quad responds to treatment in the coming days.
The team’s next game is on December 18 against the Phoenix Suns, which gives Curry an extended window to fully recover before returning to action.
The Warriors’ biggest game would come against the reigning NBA champions, who are currently leading the Western Conference.
2. A big blow for the Warriors
Imagn Images
This injury arrives at one of the worst points possible for the Warriors. They sit at 10-10 in the Western Conference and are near the bottom half of the standings.
Curry has been the lone bright spot. He is averaging 27.9 points per game, leading the team in scoring and carrying much of the offensive load. Without him, Golden State loses its primary source of scoring.
Notably, the Warriors have only three players averaging more than four points in the paint per game, which is tied for the fewest in the NBA.
Those players are Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, and Curry. With the Warriors’ star guard now sidelined and Kuminga still out, two of their main interior scorers are unavailable.
3. Jimmy Butler will need to take the charge
With Curry out, and Kuminga still not available, the pressure now shifts to Butler to take the charge. He has been carrying the offensive load alongside Curry, but it hasn’t been enough.
The 36-year-old scored a team-high 21 points in Wednesday’s loss, but a lack of support from the young group pushed them to another defeat.
The former Miami Heat star was blunt on his tale after the loss, calling out his players for not stepping up.
“We don’t box out. We don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want - open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad.”
Coach Steve Kerr will be hoping Butler’s message sparks something in the rest of the group and pushes more players to step up while Curry is out.