Stephen Curry’s Return Sparks Excitement Despite Warriors’ Narrow Loss

SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry made a much-anticipated comeback on the court, nearly leading the Warriors to victory against the odds.

There was a palpable energy in the Chase Center on Sunday night. The excitement that had diminished during Curry’s more than two-month absence crescendoed in the closing minutes of a 117-116 defeat to Kevin Durant and the Rockets.

This loss stung for Curry’s return day, but it also highlighted what the Warriors have struggled without him over the past 27 games since January 30.

Curry executed a driving layup to narrow the Rockets’ lead to 112-111 with just 87 seconds to go. He then attempted a stunning long-range shot from 32 feet, which ultimately led to Houston’s three-point play. With just 11 seconds remaining, he had the ball with the Warriors trailing by one.

He made a swift crossover before taking a shot from the top of the arc. It just… it couldn’t end that way.

Despite the setback, his performance was encouraging for the Warriors’ future. Curry scored 29 points in just 26 minutes, trailing only Durant’s 31 points in 37 minutes. He helped Golden State come back from a 15-point deficit in the second half and delivered some significant tension in the last moments.

Unfortunately, the supporting cast struggled, posting a 9-18 record during Curry’s absence. They weren’t able to pull through in this first game back with him on the court.

Krisztaps Porzingis fouled out with over 10 minutes left in the game. Brandin Podzemski managed only three of his 18 points in the second half, while Guy Santos, who scored 15 points in the first half, went quiet afterwards.

What It Means

Curry was clearly himself, finishing the game in good spirits. That was the key takeaway for the Warriors, currently holding the 10th seed in the Western Conference.

Turning Point

At halftime, the game was tightly contested, but Durant’s four-point play on the Rockets’ first halftime possession shifted momentum. The Warriors struggled to recover from that for the rest of the second half.

The foul on Durant came from Porzingis, who had managed to score three additional points early in the third quarter before fouling out just over 10 minutes into the second half.

This foul trouble not only kept the Warriors’ second-best player off the floor but also limited Coach Steve Kerr’s ability to gauge their pairing.

Sunday marked the first time the two had played together, even in practice.

MVP: Kevin Durant

Durant had a remarkable game with 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. He hit his third three-pointer shortly after De’Anthony Melton’s shot cut the Rockets’ lead to 109-107.

Game Status

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Curry’s return wasn’t enough to mitigate their defensive issues. They found it difficult to contain the Rockets, even as they missed just one of 19 free throws, falling short of their usual standards.

What’s Next

With only four games left in their schedule, the focus now is on how much Curry will be able to play in the upcoming play-in matchup. Golden State will host the Lakers on Thursday, where Curry is expected to be limited to around 25 minutes while LeBron James plays without Luka Doncic or Austin Reeves.