Curry will be sidelined for some time after an injury against the Rockets.
The Golden State Warriors received tough news on Thursday when an MRI confirmed that star guard Stephen Curry will miss at least one week due to a right quadriceps contusion and muscle strain.
How the Injury Happened
Curry went down late in Wednesday night's 104-100 NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets at Chase Center.
With 3:24 remaining and the game tied at 91, Curry and Rockets guard Amen Thompson collided under the basket on a drive to the hoop.
The play was initially whistled an offensive foul, but Houston challenged and the call was overturned to a blocking foul on Curry, who was grimacing in pain on the floor.
The 37-year-old tried to play through the injury and limped around the court for a few possessions, but he was eventually subbed out with 35.2 seconds remaining and headed straight to the locker room.
Curry's Impact on the Season
The timing could not be worse for Golden State, as Curry had been on fire heading into Wednesday's game, averaging 34.5 points over his previous six contests.
That stretch included back-to-back performances of 46 and 49 points against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
For the season, Curry is averaging 27.9 points per game and the numbers tell the story of how much the Warriors need him. Golden State is 9-7 when Curry plays and just 1-3 when he sits.
With the loss to Houston, the Warriors fell to 10-10 on the season.
Who Needs to Step Up
With Curry sidelined for at least three games, the Warriors will need others to carry the load. Jimmy Butler will be the obvious choice to take on more responsibility, and he seems ready for the challenge.
"Nobody wants to get hurt, especially that one," Butler said after Wednesday's loss. "Obviously we go as far as he goes, but we want him to be right so we have the best opportunity to be great. I think we can hold the fort down for a couple of days."
Butler has been solid this season, averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He led the Warriors with 21 points against the Rockets and will likely see his usage spike with Curry out.
Draymond Green turned in a vintage performance against Houston with 12 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks.
Brandin Podziemski has shown flashes off the bench, while rookie Will Richard scored 18 points against the Rockets and has already proven he can contribute when called upon, including a 30-point outburst earlier this season against Sacramento.
What's Next
The Warriors have two more games on their homestand, starting Saturday against New Orleans and then next Tuesday against reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City. Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the challenge ahead.
"It obviously changes everything, our rotations, how we're playing, who we're playing through, so we'll see," Kerr said. "When I heard it was a quad I was actually kind of relieved, better than an ankle or a knee, so hopefully he can recover quickly and be OK."