The Golden State Warriors watched their worst fear unfold on Wednesday night. With 35 seconds left in a tight loss to the Houston Rockets, Stephen Curry limped off the floor and headed straight to the locker room after suffering a right quad contusion. The team later confirmed he will undergo an MRI.
It was a bruising fourth quarter for Curry. His night spiraled after he collided knees with Alperen Sengun on a screen. Moments later, Amen Thompson barreled into him on a play initially called a charge before being overturned on review. A few possessions after that, Curry was knocked off balance diving for a loose ball and stayed on the floor for several seconds before getting up.
Curry finished with 14 points on 4 for 13 shooting, 7 turnovers and a limp that only worsened as the quarter went on. After a late timeout, director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini signaled that Curry could no longer play, and he headed down the tunnel without saying a word.
Steve Kerr offered guarded optimism afterward, saying he was relieved the initial diagnosis was not an ankle or knee problem, but the Warriors will not know the true severity until the MRI results come in.
Golden State fell 104 to 100 despite a late push, and the atmosphere shifted instantly once Curry disappeared from the bench.
Why the Warriors Cannot Lose Stephen Curry Right Now
GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the first half during a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on November 18, 2025 in Orlando.
Curry remains the engine of everything Golden State does. His shooting gravity still bends defenses in ways no one else in the league can replicate. According to Bball Index, he ranks among the league’s leaders in Overall Gravity, demonstrating his unmatched pull on defenders.
His absence is felt in the numbers too. The Warriors score 10.2 more points per 100 possessions with Curry on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. That swing sits near the very top of the league and mirrors how reliant Golden State has become on his scoring and movement.
Interior production is another concern. Only three Warriors average more than four points in the paint per game: Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and Curry. Kuminga has missed seven straight games with a knee issue. Even if he returns soon, Golden State still leans on Curry to create advantages and open clean looks for everyone else.
Without Curry, the Warriors become significantly more predictable. Opponents can flatten out their defense, load up the paint and dare Golden State’s supporting cast to beat them.
If Curry Misses Time, Jimmy Butler Has to Carry the Scoring Load
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesJimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
If the MRI forces Curry to the sideline, Golden State will need Butler to step into a role he has not carried consistently since his days with Miami. He has already delivered multiple 30 point games this season and has flashed strong playmaking nights, but the context matters.
Defenses play Butler far differently when Curry is on the court. With Curry off, opponents will collapse the paint, rotate early and force Butler to take tougher shots. He will need to create offense, finish through contact and manage the pace while keeping the Warriors organized.
Golden State does not have the luxury of heavy spacing or elite size right now, which makes Butler’s job even more demanding. The team will also need contributions from players like Moses Moody, Draymond Green and the rest of the rotation just to stay afloat.
Kerr said after the game that Curry’s absence “changes everything,” from rotations to who Golden State plays through. He is right. Without Curry, the Warriors become a team fighting for survival.
A Nervous Wait for the MRI
Curry has already missed four games this season due to illness and ankle soreness. The Warriors went 1 and 4 in those outings, and historically they are 92 and 155 when Curry is out of the lineup.
The timing could not be worse. Golden State is trying to regain momentum in a competitive Western Conference and still dealing with Kuminga’s absence. The franchise now waits for clarity on Curry’s MRI, hoping the contusion is manageable and not something that sidelines their superstar for long.
If Curry misses any stretch of time, the Warriors face a stretch where they must reinvent their offense on the fly. If he avoids significant downtime, Golden State may have just dodged a season-altering moment.
Either way, the next 48 hours will shape everything.
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