The Warriors probably did not envision the start of their second-round playoff series to begin this way.
Stephen Curry exited their 99-88 win in Game 1 over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night with 8:19 left in the second quarter with a hamstring strain.
He was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“We’re definitely game-planning for him not to be available Thursday [for Game 2],” head coach Steve Kerr said afterward. “But we don’t know yet. With a hamstring, it’s hard to imagine that he would play Thursday.”
The San Francisco Standard reported Curry walked back to the team bus after the game with a “pronounced limp.”
Curry had gotten off to a strong start with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting (3-for-6 from 3-point range) with one rebound and one assist as Golden State led 44-31 at halftime.
The 11-time All-Star appeared to grab at his left hamstring during the second quarter before going up to grab a rebound. He seemingly grimaced and dribbled the ball up gingerly.
Brandin Podziemski entered the game for the star to close out the first half as Curry went back to the locker room.
Without Curry, Buddy Hield and Jimmy Butler scored 24 and 20 points, respectively, while Draymond Green added 18.
Podziemski chipped in eight boards, three assists and three points.
If the Warriors lose Curry for any length of time, it almost goes without saying how big a loss losing his presence would be against Minnesota, who knocked off the Lakers in the first round.
Golden State is coming off a grueling seven-game series with the sixth-seeded Rockets.
The Warriors and T-Wolves will be back in action on Thursday.
