Stephen Curry Re-Injures Left Shin, Leaves Game
After sitting out the previous two games due to an injury to his left shin, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry returned to the court Saturday against the Denver Nuggets only to re-aggravate the injury.
According to reports, Curry confirmed that he was kicked in the exact location of the pre-existing injury while playing defense on Saturday night. The reigning MVP played 14 minutes and scored only 5 points before making an exit with two minutes left in the second quarter.
“Right in the same spot, playing defense. It’s funny I guess whenever you hurt something, you try to play through a little bit of discomfort and try to get out there, something happens. Just got to deal with it.”
The injury was bad enough to keep Curry from returning to action in the second half.
Stephen Curry has suffered a left shin contusion and will not return to the game.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 3, 2016
The Warriors were up big in the first half, but Denver rallied late in the second half with Curry out and found a way to force over time against the leagues top team in Oakland Saturday night.
Despite losing the reigning MVP in Curry to injury, the Dubs were able to stave off the pesky Nuggets to earn their 31st win of the season and 34th straight at home thanks to Draymond Green’s big night. The Warrior’s power forward recorded a consecutive tripe double (29p, 17r, 14a) to help his team secure an NBA best 31-2 record.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAESxVLRh48/?taken-by=nba
With Stephen Curry out, the Warriors were left with six available players Saturday night due to injuries which have started to mount up on the defending champs. They’ve spent most of the season without starting forward Harrison Barnes, who has been out with an ankle injury since November 27. According to RotoWire, Harrison is considered day-to-day.
The Warriors now face the reality of not having their MVP point guard for what may be a couple of games.
The Warriors, after losing only one game in their previous 30 contests, went 1-1 while Curry was sidelined.
They suffered only their second loss of the season to the Dallas Mavericks, who were led by J.J. Barea in a 114-91 victory in Dallas this past Wednesday.
They were able to rally and pick up a win in Houston without Curry the following night thanks to Klay Thompson’s hot hand, who led all scorers in Golden State’s 114-110 victory over the struggling Rockets with 38 points.
Though Curry’s injury seems to be just a contusion, the star point guard will most likely miss time this upcoming week, whether it’s one game or multiple, Curry and the Warriors still aren’t sure, but Stephen has stated that he believes the injury isn’t too serious.
“I know exactly what happened. It’s just a matter of how it feels tomorrow and go from there. It’s not as bad as the first time it happened, so that’s good news.”
The added emphasis on Curry’s injury is how it impacts a team who is striving to best the 1996 Chicago Bulls regular season record of 72-10. And though achieving a feat of that caliber may seem relevant, rushing Curry back and risking his health will most likely kill their chances of the ultimate goal in becoming back to back NBA champs.
If the Warriors are looking to rest their star PG, this week might be the opportune time to do so. Of the four games scheduled this week, three of the teams they face are well under.500 (Lakers, Blazers and Kings). The Charlotte Hornets are next up for the reigning NBA champs this Monday, and are the only team the Warriors face this week that are above.500 at 17-16.
[Photo by AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez]
