MINNEAPOLIS – Golden State’s star player Stephen Curry was forced to leave the game early in the second quarter due to a strained left hamstring, casting uncertainty over the Warriors’ future in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite Curry’s injury, the Warriors secured a 99-88 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday.

Curry is set to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, and his status is day-to-day. However, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that it is unlikely Curry will play in Game 2 on Thursday.

“He’s obviously crushed,” Kerr said, referring to Curry’s reaction. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game. We’re all concerned about Steph, but that’s part of the game. Injuries happen, and you move on. Our guys did an amazing job of handling it, especially with the quick turnaround after a Game 7 road win. This is an incredible group of guys. They compete, and they’re united.”

The injury occurred shortly after Curry hit a 26-foot step-back 3-pointer early in the second quarter. Despite feeling discomfort in his hamstring, he continued playing briefly before calling for a substitution after sinking a 14-foot floater to extend Golden State’s lead. Curry was then seen gingerly jogging to the locker room, finishing with 13 points in just 13 minutes of action on 5-of-9 shooting.

“It’s a little deflating, but we knew Steph did a great job of helping us get that comfortable lead,” said Curry’s teammate Draymond Green.

Curry had been crucial in the Warriors’ Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets just two nights earlier, playing the full game after a grueling back-and-forth series. The Warriors’ tight schedule, with only one day of rest between Games 1 and 2, adds to the uncertainty surrounding Curry’s recovery.

After battling various injuries in recent years, including issues with both hands and feet, Curry managed to play in 70 games this season, showing resilience after playing 74 games the year before. The four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star averaged 24 points per game in the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets.

Despite Curry’s early exit, the Warriors’ confidence remained high, with key performances stepping up in his absence.

“We have the best coaching staff in the NBA. We know they’ll put us in a good spot,” said Jimmy Butler, who contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. “We all want ’30’ back. Until then, we’ve got to hold down the fort.”

As the Warriors look ahead to Game 2, they face the daunting challenge of playing without their leader, at least temporarily. How they adapt to Curry’s absence could shape the outcome of the series, but for now, they remain optimistic about their depth and coaching.

Source: AP News – Curry leaves Warriors’ win vs. Wolves with hamstring strain, putting rest of series in question

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BOSTON  – The Boston Celtics cruised to a 103-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, but the win wasn’t without its tense moments. As the Celtics began to assert their dominance, their star player, Jayson Tatum, found himself on the ground in pain after a hard fall.

Despite the scare, Tatum was able to recover and finish the game, much to the relief of the home crowd. As chants of “MVP!” filled the TD Garden, Tatum slowly made his way to the bench, reassuring fans that he was alright. “I just landed on it. It was throbbing for a second,” Tatum explained. “It kind of went away.”

With Tatum back in action, Boston was able to maintain control of the game, with Derrick White leading the charge, scoring a career-high 30 points. Tatum finished with 17 points, and Payton Pritchard made a big impact off the bench, adding 19 points. Jaylen Brown, who had missed the last three regular-season games due to a knee injury, chipped in with 16 points, playing 31 minutes.

White, confident in his team’s versatility, said, “We’ve got many different ways we can win. A lot of different things we can throw at teams.”

While the Celtics were comfortably in control for most of the game, the Magic managed to keep things close early on. Orlando led by one point at halftime, largely due to their defense, which limited the Celtics’ usually potent three-point shooting. The Magic forced the Celtics to make just 7-of-15 three-pointers in the first half, and Boston finished the game with a solid 16-of-37 from beyond the arc.

However, the tide turned in the third quarter, when Orlando struggled with turnovers, giving up six in the period. The Celtics capitalized, outscoring the Magic 30-18 and taking a 78-65 lead into the final quarter. From there, Boston extended their lead to as much as 19 points, closing out the game with ease.

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero led his team with a standout performance, scoring 36 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 23 points. Despite their strong individual performances, the Magic couldn’t overcome the Celtics’ defensive pressure and ball movement.

“We’ve got to clean up the turnovers,” said Banchero. “It’s Game 1, there’s nerves. Lit crowd. Really loud. Not a total surprise that we struggled a little bit on offense, honestly.”

Jaylen Brown, who had injections in his knee last week to manage the issue, showed no signs of limitation. In the third quarter, with the Celtics holding a 15-point lead, Brown threw down an emphatic two-handed dunk and hung on the rim in celebration. “I haven’t got one of those in a little bit,” Brown said. “But we’re just getting started.”

The Celtics will look to extend their series lead when they host Game 2 on Wednesday night. With Tatum’s health intact and their offensive depth on full display, Boston appears well on its way to advancing deeper into the playoffs as they aim to defend their NBA championship.

Source: AP News – Derrick White scores 30, Tatum stays in game after fall and Celtics beat Magic 103-86 in Game 1

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