Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will miss the next two games after sustaining a left ankle sprain in Sunday’s 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. While Curry’s MRI showed no structural damage, he’ll be re-evaluated on November 1 ahead of the team’s five-game road trip.
The injury occurred late in the third quarter when Curry initially tweaked his ankle but returned in the fourth quarter, only to aggravate it again. With Curry ultimately sitting out the rest of the game, he finished with 18 points and six assists in 27 minutes. Head coach Steve Kerr shared postgame that he’s optimistic about Curry’s prognosis.
“He’s doing okay,” Kerr said. “He used the word ‘mild to moderate.’ He’s obviously sprained that ankle many times before, so he doesn’t think it’s too bad. But it’s a concern.”
While the Warriors have faced similar situations with Curry in the past due to his history with ankle injuries, the 36-year-old has managed to keep them at bay for years with braces and conditioning. Now, the team will need to rely on their depth to offset his absence, especially in their upcoming games against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Key Players Expected to Step Up
Andrew Wiggins showed he’s ready for the challenge, leading the Warriors with 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including five 3-pointers against the Clippers. With Curry sidelined, Kerr is likely to position Wiggins as the primary scoring option.
“Wiggs is off to a great start and had a great night,” Kerr said. “He’s an obvious candidate to get the ball more. But we’ve got a deep team. We’ve got a lot of guys who can play. We’ll be ready.”
Wiggins has had an impressive start, averaging 19.7 points on 55% shooting, including 57.9% from 3-point range, along with 6.7 rebounds per game.
Buddy Hield, the Warriors’ Sixth Man so far this season, is also expected to take on an increased role. Hield has been on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 53% of his 3-pointers and averaging 19 points in just over 20 minutes per game.
“Just got to stick together,” Hield said about Curry’s absence. “It’ll be a great challenge.”
In addition to Wiggins and Hield, Jonathan Kuminga is set to get more opportunities. The former lottery pick, who is entering a contract year, has struggled early in the season, averaging only 8.0 points on 33.3% shooting. Kerr and the Warriors hope he’ll capitalize on this chance to get into a rhythm with more minutes and touches.
With Curry’s two-game absence, the Warriors will face a real test in maintaining momentum and leveraging their depth. Kerr remains confident that his squad has what it takes to hold down the fort, with Wiggins and Hield leading the charge and Kuminga in a prime position to step up.
