Stephen Curry scores 29 points as Golden State Warriors lose to Rockets
Stephen Curry scored 29 points on his return from a 27-game absence but missed a buzzer-beating shot as the Golden State Warriors suffered a 117-116 defeat by the Houston Rockets in San Francisco on Sunday.
The veteran guard volunteered to come off the bench to manage his minutes, ending an extended spell on the sidelines caused by a persistent knee issue.
He replaced his brother, Seth Curry, late in the first quarter to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
“First run was rough. Second run was great.” – Stephen Curry
Finding a rhythm
Despite an initial travel violation, the talismanic playmaker quickly found his stride during the second quarter.
Head coach Steve Kerr extended his star player’s minutes in the second half, allowing him to score 22 points across the final two quarters.
The returning point guard orchestrated a dramatic late rally to overturn a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes.
He lined up a potential game-winning 30-footer at the buzzer, but the jump shot fell agonisingly long.
“Looked great when it left his hands. I was a little nervous seeing that ball in the air.” – Kevin Durant, Rockets forward
Play-in tournament looms
Golden State are now guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
They currently hold a 36-42 record and are heavily favoured to enter the postseason as the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
The franchise faces a crucial play-in tournament eliminator against either the LA Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers next week.
Kerr expects his leading scorer to rejoin the starting lineup soon, but remains cautious about managing the unpredictable “runner’s knee” condition.
“I don’t think there’s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson. Steph looked amazing.” – Steve Kerr, Warriors head coach
The team remains optimistic they can mount a serious playoff push, bolstered by the anticipated return of veteran centre Al Horford from a calf strain.
