The Warriors avoided the worst-case scenario, but it’s still unclear how long Steph Curry will be out.
As expected the Golden State Warriors have diagnosed Steph Curry with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and ruled him out for Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to reports by Shams Charania of ESPN and Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Per Slater, the Warriors expect Curry to miss multiple games and do not have a clear time table for his return. Still, he has a chance to return in the series.
A Grade 2 or Grade 3 strain would have likely ruled Curry out for the rest of the playoffs. However, players have returned from Grade 1 strains in less than a week before. Granted, hamstring strains have a high rate of reinjury, suggesting players often come back too soon. The Warriors medical staff will understandably be hesitant to bring the 37-year old Curry back before he’s 100% healthy.
The Warriors were able to overcome Curry’s absence for most of Game 1 with a critical 99-88 victory. The series would likely be over if they had lost, but now they only need to win one out of the next four games to host a Game 6 at Chase Center, which is scheduled to be 11 days from Curry’s injury. Curry would need to be cleared with just a 7 day absence to play in Game 5.
Securing just one more win against the Wolves may prove to be too tall a task for the Dubs, but Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will look to lead the way. If they can survive long enough to get Curry back, the Warriors will have a chance.