Stephen Curry was injured in the first half of the Golden State Warriors’ victory over the Minnesota Timber Wolves.
Curry scored 13 points in the same minutes the Warriors built an early lead before hamstring issues forced him to leave court.
Steve Kerr’s team powered in his absence with outstanding performances from Buddy Heald and Draymond Green, eventually winning 99-88.
At a postgame press conference, Kerr admitted what happened in the locker room at halftime.
Curry’s injuries could have easily derailed the warrior. The Timberwolves suddenly had the best player on the floor after he fell (Anthony Edwards).
However, as Minnesota never reached an impressive distance, Butler, Green and Heald supported the away team with 62 points between them.
Carr surprisingly explained that no one said anything about Curry’s injuries at halftime.
The Warriors head coach was to inform Gary Payton II that he would replace the 37-year-old in the third quarter lineup.
“I didn’t say anything,” Kerr told the media. “By the time we reached the locker room at halftime, Steph was already there with an ice pack in his hamstring.
“They already knew, and we didn’t say anything. I just told Gary he would start towards Steph, and we talked about plans for the second half.”
Butler and Green have proven to be elite playoff performers over the past decade, and Hield has already had a great postseason.
The two Warriors players who need to step up in Curry’s absence are Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Posiemski’s first round draft picks.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins told Kerr to sit Kuminga for the rest of the playoffs after his low performance in Game 7 against the Houston Rockets.
The warriors split between curry rosters for 40 minutes, so they can no longer afford to do it. Kuminga will probably play 10-15 next time.
As for Podziemski, he scored 26 points in Game 4 against the Rockets, but he had little else. His three-point shooting is important if there is no curry on the floor.