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Victor Petkov
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Warriors beat Timberwolves 99-88, but lose Steph Curry to hamstring injury
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Steve Kerr admitted it’s unlikely Curry will be available for Game 2 on Thursday

Golden State’s playoff hopes took a serious hit Tuesday night as Stephen Curry exited early in the second quarter with a strained left hamstring during the Warriors’ 99–88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, the team is bracing for the possibility of an extended absence for their star guard.

Curry will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.

Though he is officially listed as day to day, head coach Steve Kerr admitted it’s unlikely Curry will be available for Game 2 on Thursday.

The injury occurred shortly after Curry drained a signature 26-foot step-back three-pointer. He appeared to be in some discomfort but stayed on the court long enough to float in another basket, pushing Golden State’s lead to 27–20. Moments later, he signaled to the bench and, following a Minnesota timeout, jogged carefully to the locker room. At the time of his exit, Curry had scored 13 points in just 13 minutes, shooting 5-for-9 from the field.

This latest setback comes just two nights after Curry led the Warriors to a Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets, a grueling series that went the distance despite Golden State holding a 3–1 lead. The condensed schedule offers little recovery time — only a single day of rest separates the first five games of this series. A brief reprieve won’t come until the three-day gap between Games 5 and 6, scheduled from May 14 to May 18.

Now 37, Curry has had an impressive run of durability recently, playing in 70 games this season after appearing in 74 the previous year. This follows a difficult stretch earlier in his career, during which he battled multiple injuries to his hands and feet. Against Houston, he averaged 24 points per game, continuing to be the engine of Golden State’s offense.

Without Curry, the Warriors will need to recalibrate quickly as they face a well-rested and hungry Timberwolves team in Game 2.