MINNESOTA – Steph Curry’s hamstring strain will keep him out for Game 2 and at least the next week of the Warriors’ playoff series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
An MRI Wednesday morning revealed a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported and the Warriors confirmed later Wednesday. While that is the least severe grade possible, Curry will not be re-evaluated until next Wednesday, according to the Warriors.
Curry grabbed at his left hamstring after an offensive sequence in the second quarter of Game 1, motioned to the bench and left the game with 8:19 to go before halftime. The Warriors won the game 99-88.
The win was particularly significant because their medical staff will likely be conservative with his return to play, as muscle injuries — and hamstrings in particular — are ripe for re-injury.
“The reason you don’t want to rush back a hamstring strain is that there’s a high rate of re-injury if you come back too early.” Dr. Nirav Pandya, the director of sports medicine at Benioff Children’s Hospital, said in a social media post Tuesday night. “In addition, there’s a high rate of additional injuries to the body if your hamstring isn’t very secure or strong enough to come back on the court.”
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The Warriors play three games over the next week — including their first two home games of the series on Saturday and Monday. Game 5 of the series would be next Wednesday, May 14, in Minneapolis, then the teams get a break until Game 6 at Chase Center the following Sunday, May 18. Game 7, a road game for the Warriors if the series reaches that point, would be played Tuesday, May 20.
Curry missed 12 regular-season games with an assortment of injuries, including two late in the regular season with a bruised pelvis. Curry has also been dealing with a right thumb and ankle injury.