Curry’s Injury Forces Warriors to Navigate Key Road Trip Without Star

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss the upcoming three-game road trip to Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Chicago due to a left thigh contusion. This injury extends his absence to at least five games, with a reevaluation initially scheduled for Thursday. Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ head coach, described Curry’s chances of returning by the weekend as a “long shot.”

Following discussions with Curry and Rick Celebrini, the franchise’s lead medical decision-maker, the decision was made for Curry to remain in the Bay Area for treatment. He sustained the injury during a home loss to the Houston Rockets on November 29, and the team is now looking ahead to December 12, when they are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves at home.

Warriors Face Challenges on the Road

The Warriors enter this road trip with a record of 11-11, having struggled through their last few games. They recently concluded a homestand with a disappointing 2-3 record, highlighted by a notable performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. During that game, the Warriors rallied from a 22-point deficit, thanks in part to Seth Curry, who scored 14 points in his debut, briefly giving the team a lead in the fourth quarter. Despite this effort, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the victory for the Thunder with 38 points, pushing their record to an impressive 21-1.

As the Warriors prepare for their road trip, uncertainty lingers around the availability of their second star, Jimmy Butler. He missed the second half of the Tuesday game against the Thunder due to a sore left knee after coming into the matchup questionable because of a glute contusion. Coach Kerr expressed concern, stating, “I don’t know anything more. I didn’t even know [he was out] until I was drawing up a play with a minute to go and somebody came in the huddle and said Jimmy is down.”

The Warriors will need to navigate these challenges carefully as they head into their next series of games. With Curry sidelined and Butler’s status uncertain, the team will rely on its depth and resilience to compete against tough opponents on the road.