Stephen Curry Exits Early in Houston With Abdominal Soreness, Putting a Scare Into the Red-Hot Warriors

Golden State's hottest stretch of the season hit a scary bump in Houston on Wednesday night, when Stephen Curry walked off the floor in the first quarter and did not come back.

The 38-year-old guard knocked down a 3-pointer with about seven and a half minutes left in the opening period, then put his hand on his right side and winced, The Associated Press reported ^[1]. He walked straight over to coach Steve Kerr, and the Warriors ruled him out for the rest of the night with right abdominal soreness ^[1][2]. Yahoo Sports reported that the team had not released any further specifics ^[3].

According to Heavy, Curry checked out with 6:25 left in the first quarter with Golden State trailing 19-10, and Brandin Podziemski replaced him ^[4]. He headed to the locker room with trainer Drew Yoder ^[4]. In just under six minutes on the floor, he scored three points on 1-of-3 shooting ^[3][4][5]. Yahoo Sports reported that he stayed in the locker room for the rest of the quarter and was formally ruled out at the start of the second ^[3].

There was some early confusion about exactly where it hurt. An ESPN video description called it an apparent right hip injury, and Warriors On SI said Curry grabbed at his hip right after the shot ^[4][5]. Reporter Anthony Slater wrote on X that Curry had been grabbing at his right hip and oblique area for several minutes and was "in obvious discomfort," Heavy reported ^[4]. The team's own description, abdominal soreness, is the one that matters for now.

A Star Playing Like an MVP Again

The timing could hardly be worse for Golden State. The Warriors came into the night 8-3, having won eight straight games after an 0-3 start ^[1][4]. Curry has been the engine of that run. He is averaging 30.6 points per game, second in the NBA, along with 4.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds in his 18th season ^[1][3]. Heavy noted he is making 4.7 3-pointers a game at a 45.7 percent clip across his nine appearances ^[4], and the AP reported he had led the Warriors in scoring in six of their last eight games ^[1].

His health has been a running storyline for a few years now. NBA.com pointed out that Curry played 70-plus games in back-to-back seasons before a lingering knee issue limited him to 43 games last season ^[2]. That is why any trip to the locker room this early in a game, and this early in a season, gets everyone's attention in the Bay Area.

A Thin Roster Gets Thinner

If Curry has to miss time, Kerr will be digging deep into his bench. Jimmy Butler is out after ACL surgery, Moses Moody is recovering from surgery on his left patellar tendon and Kristaps Porzingis is unavailable, Heavy reported ^[4]. Brandon Williams is dealing with a left hamstring strain, Gary Payton II has inflammation in his left knee and Will Richard has been playing through a torn ligament in his left thumb ^[4][5].

The bright spot has been rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4 assists, according to Heavy ^[4]. Kerr has leaned on Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton and Lendeborg, and Warriors On SI expects LJ Cryer to see a lot more playing time with Curry out while Lendeborg is asked to carry more of the scoring ^[4][5].

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Wednesday's game was the first stop on a five-game road trip. The Warriors visit San Antonio on Friday in an NBA Cup game, play at New Orleans on Monday, at Dallas next Wednesday and at Memphis next Thursday, according to Warriors On SI ^[5]. Heavy reported that the team had not announced an official diagnosis or a timetable ^[4], so the next real news should come when the club updates his status ahead of Friday.

My Take

"Soreness" is a much better word than "strain" or "tear," and the Warriors did exactly the right thing by shutting him down on the spot instead of letting a 38-year-old try to gut it out in the middle of November. A win in Houston is not worth a lost month.

But let's be honest about what Golden State is without him. This is a team that has survived injuries to Butler, Moody and Porzingis largely because its leader is still playing at an elite level in his 18th season. Lendeborg has been a wonderful surprise, and Podziemski and Melton have earned Kerr's trust, but no one on that roster replaces 30 points a night and the gravity that pulls every defense toward the 3-point line.

What I admire most about Curry, and what young players should notice, is how he has carried himself through all of it: the injuries, the rebuilds, the doubters. He shows up, he works, he gives credit to his teammates and he plays the game with joy. That kind of example lasts longer than any streak.

Here is hoping the update on Thursday is a good one. The Spurs are waiting on Friday, and the Warriors are going to need their captain.