Warriors wait on Curry MRI after abdominal injury ends eight-game run in Houston
Stephen Curry left Wednesday's loss at Houston with right abdominal soreness and had an MRI, leaving the 8-4 Warriors unsure of his status for San Antonio.
The Golden State Warriors have spent a month showing what a healthy Stephen Curry can still do. Now they have to find out how long they will be without him. Curry left Wednesday night's loss to the Houston Rockets after six minutes with what the team called right abdominal soreness. He left the arena before the final buzzer for an MRI, and the results had not been announced as of Thursday.
Steve Kerr did not try to play it down. "Concern is high but I have no idea the extent of the injury," the coach said after the game, according to USA TODAY Sports. Yahoo Sports reported that Curry told Kerr he had tweaked something he had never hurt before. Curry finished with three points and a turnover.
The trouble started early. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that Curry did not look like he was moving at full speed from the opening tip, with Amen Thompson defending him closely. After he made a 3-pointer, he grabbed his right side. He played on for a few more possessions, then walked straight to the locker room at the first timeout. The Chronicle also pointed out that the club has worked carefully to manage the workload of its 38-year-old star.
How long he is out depends on what the scan shows. As USA TODAY's Lorenzo Reyes noted, core injuries tend to be stubborn because nearly every basketball movement uses those muscles. A strain would mean a shorter absence, while a tear could keep him out much longer. Reyes pointed to Paolo Banchero, who missed 34 games with a torn oblique in 2024-25.
Whatever the timeline, the Warriors have no one who can do what Curry does. He came into Wednesday shooting 50.3% from the field and 45.7% from 3-point range, by USA TODAY's count. Defenses have to follow him off the ball everywhere, and that movement creates space for everyone else on the floor. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who has been one of the early-season stories, and starting guard Brandin Podziemski would both be asked to create more offense. Golden State has also not given an update on Jimmy Butler, who is out. CBS Sports noted that De'Anthony Melton started the second half in Curry's place and is the likely starter if Curry sits.
What it means for San Antonio
The timing hurts. Golden State is 8-4 after losing its first three games: a 27-point defeat at the Lakers, a three-point loss at home to Memphis and a nine-point loss in Phoenix. The Warriors then won eight straight. That run included road wins at Denver and Minnesota, wins over the Lakers, Clippers and Suns, and a 138-87 rout of New Orleans. Several of those wins were close, including three-point and five-point games against Phoenix and Minnesota, and Curry's late-game scoring made the difference in those.
The Houston loss ended the streak. The next game comes quickly: Friday, November 13, at San Antonio, streamed on Prime Video. With the MRI results still pending, CBS Sports listed Curry as highly questionable at best. If he cannot play, Friday will be the first real test of how the Warriors score without the player their offense is built around, on the road against a young Spurs team. Several outlets reported Kerr's concern. Whether the Warriors can stay near the top of the West for a stretch without Curry depends on what the scan shows.