Steve Kerr Speaks on the Impact of Steph Curry’s Return

Stephen Curry returned for the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, and Chase Center felt like itself again.

The Dubs fell just short against the Houston Rockets, 117-116, but Steve Kerr wasn't focused on the final score when he spoke to the media afterward. Curry returned from injury and immediately reminded everyone what his presence means to this franchise, even in a loss.

The atmosphere was different, the offense was different, and the entire complexion of what Golden State can be shifted the moment he stepped back on the floor.

"Well obviously we didn't win, which was disappointing," Kerr said. "But I loved the atmosphere, I loved the vibe, I loved the performance of our team. And it just felt right again. And that's the impact Steph has, he just makes everything right. He makes everybody better. There's an energy in the building that only exists when he's there."

It didn't take long for Curry to shake off the rust. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting, knocking down five of his ten three-point attempts across 38 minutes. His 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio reflected how in control he was running the offense, and his plus-12 was the best mark on the team by a wide margin. 

The impact Kerr described showed up all over the box score. Golden State shot 50% from the field as a team and dished out 34 assists on 42 made baskets, a level of ball movement that's been difficult to sustain without Curry. When he's on the floor, everyone else's job gets easier.

Draymond Green illustrated that perfectly, racking up 12 assists alongside seven points with a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. That performance from Green doesn't happen the same way without Curry pulling attention on the other side of the floor.

Brandin Podziemski added 18 points on 63.6% shooting, and Gary Payton II chipped in 14 more, giving Golden State contributions across the lineup that felt genuinely connected.

Houston needed a monster performance just to hold on. Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Alperen Sengun added 24 points and seven assists to keep the Rockets afloat.

Golden State actually outscored Houston 34-25 in the fourth quarter but couldn't fully erase a third-quarter deficit that saw the Rockets outscore the Warriors 37-29 to take control of the game.

Falling one point short in Curry's return is a tough pill to swallow, but the bigger picture matters here.

The Warriors have two games remaining in the regular season, and getting Curry back healthy, confident, and into a rhythm at exactly this moment is the kind of development that changes a team's outlook heading into the play-in tournament. Stephen Curry is still Stephen Curry, and that should excite Warriors fans.