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Stephen Curry's abdominal injury is more severe than initially thought, and the Golden State Warriors may be without their superstar for a significant stretch. Curry exited Wednesday's 115-108 loss to the Houston Rockets with the injury, and ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday on X that the two-time MVP has an oblique abdominal tear. While Curry was initially slated for re-evaluation in two weeks, Charania later provided a bleaker outlook on NBA Today.
"I'm told that Stephen Curry is actually going to be sidelined for closer to one month with this oblique abdominal tear that he suffered," Charania said. "And so the Warriors will be evaluating Curry in about 14 days. And at that point, they're going to get a better feel for his recovery, how much time he's going to need in his rehab, whether it's going to require three weeks or four weeks or more. But certainly the Warriors are now bracing that this could be at least a double-digit sum of games for Stephen Curry, who's been off to a blistering start this year, as we know 30 points per game going into Wednesday night's contest, but he is now out for at least about two to four weeks."
Losing Curry for a month would be a devastating blow for the Warriors. The team had reeled off eight consecutive wins after opening the season 0-3, and now must find a way to stay competitive without the 12-time All-Star for an extended period.
As Charania noted, Curry was enjoying a spectacular start to the 2026-27 NBA season. Entering the matchup with the Rockets, the 38-year-old was averaging 30.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field, 45.7% from three-point range, and 98.7% from the free-throw line. Averaging 30 points on 50-40-90 efficiency is outrageous, making the injury even more unfortunate.
The exact mechanism of Curry's injury remains unclear. Rockets center Alperen Sengun notably grabbed and twisted Curry's right arm early in the first quarter. Curry was seen holding his side after the collision and, minutes later, asked to be taken out of the game. He finished with three points on 1-of-3 shooting in just six minutes against Houston.
Despite losing their superstar, the Warriors did not collapse. They battled hard, led by Yaxel Lendeborg, who posted 25 points (9-19 FG), 10 rebounds, and two steals. It was another impressive performance in what has been a terrific rookie season for Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Michigan.
Golden State will now count on Lendeborg to be the primary option in Curry's absence. The rookie has already shown he can handle an increased role. Curry missed two games earlier this season, and Lendeborg shined in both. On Oct. 24 against the Phoenix Suns, Lendeborg had 26 points (9-19 FG), nine rebounds, five assists, and one block, though the Suns won 131-122. Then on Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers, the 24-year-old exploded for 37 points (13-19 FG), four rebounds, six assists, and one steal, powering the Warriors to a 124-112 victory.
Last season, the Warriors were 13-26 without Curry, but they didn't have Lendeborg then. He gives them hope, but a win in their next game won't come easily. The 8-4 Warriors will face the 10-2 San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET in an Emirates NBA Cup game. The Spurs have won 10 straight and are the hottest team in the NBA. With Curry, the Warriors would have had a chance; without him, it will take a near-miracle to pull off the upset.
Key Analysis
Curry's injury puts immense pressure on a Warriors team that was finally finding its rhythm. The oblique tear not only threatens to derail Golden State's recent surge but also tests the depth and resilience of the roster. Lendeborg's emergence as a reliable scoring option provides a glimmer of hope, but replacing a player of Curry's caliber—especially one performing at an MVP level—is nearly impossible. The Warriors' upcoming schedule, starting with a red-hot Spurs team, will be a stern test of their ability to stay afloat in the competitive Western Conference.
Originally reported by yahoo.