The Golden State Warriors’ eight-game surge hit a wall Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets, and the bigger blow arrived with Stephen Curry’s injury news.
Curry left the loss with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter and later had an MRI. ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that “Stephen Curry will miss at least two weeks after suffering an oblique abdominal tear, but sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday that the Golden State Warriors are bracing for their star to be out closer to a month. Curry exited Wednesday's loss to the Houston Rockets with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter and later had an MRI,”
That’s the kind of update no one in Golden State wanted, but the Warriors may get a little relief on the other side of the roster. Gary Payton II is set to return Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs after missing the last two games with left knee inflammation.
“Gary Payton II will return tomorrow for the Warriors against the Spurs after missing the last two games to left knee inflammation NBCS Warriors,” NBC Sports’ Dalton Johnson wrote.
Payton isn’t going to replace Curry’s scoring, and nobody is pretending otherwise. What he can do is help steady the defense, which matters even more now that Golden State has to navigate life without its star guard.
The Warriors also have the comfort of knowing what they’re getting from him. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, “Free agent Gary Payton II has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN. Payton returns to the Warriors for his seventh year in the Bay Area -- and his 11th NBA season," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
For Golden State, the task now is simple enough to say and hard to pull off: survive Curry’s absence without letting the strong start slip away. Payton has the veteran experience to help keep things on track until the Warriors get their leading man back.
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