Stephen Curry Injures Quad in Warriors’ Close Loss to Rockets

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry exited the game in the final moments of a tense 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets on March 15, 2024. He left the court limping due to what the team identified as a right quad contusion. An MRI is scheduled to assess the severity of the injury and its potential impact on his playing time.

Curry’s injury occurred amidst a series of fourth-quarter collisions. Notably, he attempted to take a charge on Rockets guard Amen Thompson with 3:24 remaining but was instead called for a blocking foul after being struck by an elbow. Shortly after, he drove into the lane for a layup attempt, leading to another charge call that was not overturned despite a challenge from Warriors coach Steve Kerr. As the game progressed, Curry appeared to struggle with his mobility, clearly in pain.

With just 35.2 seconds left in the game, Curry consulted with Rick Celebrini, the team’s lead medical decision-maker. Celebrini signaled to the bench that Curry would not return, prompting him to head to the locker room. Kerr remarked on the potential consequences of losing Curry, stating, “If Steph has to miss [time]? It obviously changes everything—our rotations, how we’re playing, who we are playing through.”

The timing of Curry’s injury is particularly concerning for the Warriors, who now hold a record of 10-10 after an encouraging 4-1 start to the season. Following the loss, both Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green criticized the team’s defensive performance. Butler pointed out, “We don’t box out… we let anybody do whatever they want—open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad.”

Despite the Rockets converting only 39 of their 99 shots, they capitalized on their physicality, grabbing 25 offensive rebounds and outscoring the Warriors by 16 points in the second half. Green expressed his frustration bluntly, stating, “Our defense is s—.” Although the Warriors have a respectable defensive rating of 112.2, ranking 10th among 30 teams, their offensive output has faltered, sitting at 22nd with a rating of 113.2.

Green emphasized that the team’s struggles extend beyond statistics, saying, “How do you feel when you’re out there? It’s just letdown after letdown. It’s bigger than the numbers. Defense is about demeanor.” He and Butler have been vocal about the need for improved team play, especially in light of individual agendas that were called out after recent losses.

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly close to returning from his own injury. He scrimmaged on Wednesday afternoon and expressed optimism about being ready for the upcoming home game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, pending the results of Curry’s MRI, the Warriors may need to adapt significantly, as Butler noted, “We’re going to have to be damn near perfect [without Curry].”

The potential absence of Curry raises questions about the Warriors’ ability to navigate a challenging stretch in their schedule. As the team looks to regain its footing, the focus will be on how they adjust their strategy and player rotations in the face of uncertainty regarding their star player’s health.