Steph Curry was forced out of the first playoff game between Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves with a left hamstring strain.
In scenes that could have massive ramifications for the rest of the postseason, the NBA great was seen moving slowly around the court after holding the back of his left leg in concerning scenes for Warriors fans in the second quarter.
The 37-year-old then left the court looking frustrated and it was promptly announced that he would not be returning, leaving his team facing an anxious wait for further news.
The Warriors simply said that it was a ‘left hamstring strain’ that was troubling Curry after he left the playoff encounter on Tuesday night.
Curry appeared to sustain the injury after driving for a layup. He favored his left leg after the shot and lifted his arm to signal to the bench that something felt wrong.
‘You miss Steph, you miss a lot. You miss a guy that controls the floor, you miss a guy that hits a lot of wild, timely shots,’ Shaquille O’Neal said at the halftime interval on TNT’s NBA coverage, admitting he is concerned for Curry’s future in the game given his age.
Steph Curry hurt his hamstring as Golden State Warriors played Minnesota Timberwolves
Curry appeared to damage his left leg in the second quarter of the game on Tuesday night
‘Maybe Curry is starting to break down. He moves a lot for a 37-year-old. This could be crucial. If I’m Golden State, I want to get this game and rest him Game 2.’
The Warriors held a 44-31 lead over the Timberwolves at halftime, with Curry’s absence seemingly prompting his Golden State teammates into an attacking resposne without their star man.
Draymond Green stepped up with two swashbuckling three-pointers, while Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards struggling to get going and only had one-point to his name at halftime.
But if Curry’s injury is significant, it would be a huge boost for the Timberwolves even in the result of a loss in Game 1.
Curry left Tuesday night’s game with 13 points in 13 minutes in Minnesota.
Warriors eventually on held on for a 99-88 win in the Western Conference semifinals but it’s now a case of victory at what cost for Golden State.
Minnesota trailed by as many as 23 points but pulled within single digits in the fourth quarter. A 13-2 run by the Timberwolves cut their deficit to 85-76 with 6:02 remaining.