Fantasy Basketball Injury Watch: Curry's MRI Hangs Over the Warriors' Road Trip as Egor Dëmin Roars Back

Fantasy managers woke up Thursday to the kind of news nobody wants in November: Stephen Curry's status is a question mark, and the Warriors are on the road with a thin roster. Here is what we know, what we don't, and how to play it.

What Happened to Curry

Curry left Golden State's 115-108 loss in Houston in the first quarter, shortly after knocking down a 3-pointer, and the Warriors ruled him out with right abdominal soreness ^[1][2]. He had three points on 1-of-3 shooting before he exited ^[3]. ClutchPoints reported that he left the arena after halftime to undergo an MRI, and Heavy reported that the team was still awaiting the findings late Wednesday ^[1][2].

Coach Steve Kerr did not sugarcoat it. "Concern is high, but I have no idea the extent of the injury," Kerr said, according to ClutchPoints ^[1]. Heavy reported that Golden State had not announced a diagnosis or a recovery timetable ^[2].

The schedule doesn't help. ClutchPoints noted that the Warriors have four more games on this road trip in the span of seven nights, starting Friday in San Antonio ^[1]. Before the injury, Curry was averaging 30.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists across nine appearances, Yahoo Sports reported ^[3]. That kind of production can't be replaced off the waiver wire, so let's be clear about what to do and what not to do.

How to Handle It

Do not drop Curry. Not in any format. Abdominal injuries can mean a few days or a few weeks, and nobody outside the Warriors' training room knows which this is yet. If your league has an injured list spot open and the team lists him as out, move him there and use the roster spot. If you play in a daily league, keep him out of Friday's lineup until Golden State gives an update; the risk of a zero is too high.

The pickups come from the players who carried the load in Houston. Brandin Podziemski scored 22 points with six rebounds and four assists, and Yaxel Lendeborg put up 25 points and 10 rebounds, according to ClutchPoints and Heavy ^[1][2]. ClutchPoints also reported that the Warriors were down to nine healthy rostered players ^[1]. Fewer bodies means more minutes, and more minutes means more counting stats.

My order: Podziemski first. He is the guard most likely to step into Curry's ball-handling load, and his line Wednesday showed the all-around numbers that help in category leagues. Lendeborg is the higher-upside dart throw in deeper leagues. A 25-and-10 night gets noticed fast, so if you want him, put the claim in this morning.

Dëmin Is Back in Brooklyn

On the happier side of the ledger, Nets guard Egor Dëmin returned from a right leg bone bruise and tied his season high with 22 points in Brooklyn's 145-111 rout in New Orleans, CBS Sports reported ^[4]. He made 4 of 6 from deep in 23 minutes ^[4]. The Associated Press reported that he had missed six games with the injury ^[5].

Related Nets Hit 20 3-Pointers and Pour In 145 Points to Rout the Pelicans as Egor Dëmin Returns With 22

Here's the caution: CBS Sports noted that Dëmin had single-digit scoring in three of his first four regular-season games before he got hurt ^[4]. One big night in a blowout is not a trend. In deep leagues and dynasty formats he is worth a speculative add; in shallow leagues, keep him on your watch list for another week before you cut someone useful.

The Rest of Wednesday's Injury Board

Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III missed his second straight game with knee soreness, which the AP described as bilateral patellar tendinopathy ^[5]. That's the nagging kind of problem that can linger. Hold him, but have a backup plan for the weekend; New Orleans hosts Memphis on Friday night ^[5].

In Milwaukee, Lakers fans held their breath when Luka Dončić went down clutching his right ankle late in a 123-112 win over the Bucks, the New York Post reported ^[6]. Coach JJ Redick said afterward that he believes Dončić is fine, according to the Post ^[6]. Unless the Lakers list him otherwise, start him as usual and don't let one scary moment push you into a panic move.

The Bottom Line

The managers who win leagues don't panic, and they don't sit still either. Hold your stars, grab the players whose minutes are about to grow, and wait for real information before making a big move. Curry's MRI results will tell us how long Golden State has to manage without him, and when the team speaks, we'll have an update.

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