The Golden State Warriors currently have control over their position in the Western Conference standings. A victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 13th would have placed them in the top half of the Play-in Tournament group, giving them a significant advantage in the race for a playoff spot.
However, the Warriors not only lost to the Pelicans 109-114 on their home court at the Chase Center, but they also suffered a minor setback as their star player, Stephen Curry, sustained an ιnjury.
The NBA’s three-point record holder twisted his ankle with 5 minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. At that time, the Warriors were trailing by 5 points.
Stephen Curry displayed clear discomfort and pаin during the team huddle after the ιnjury, adding to the emotional contrast of the Warriors’ game day.
He had a good shooting performance from beyond the three-point line, making 7 out of 12 attempts, but also committed several turnovers (7 turnovers), contributing to the Warriors falling behind in the first half of the game. Despite this, Stephen continued to play through the pаin, hoping to lead his teammates in a comeback.
In fact, he scored 13 points out of his total of 33 points in the final 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, this effort was not enough, especially with CJ McCollum performing exceptionally well for the New Orleans Pelicans.
CJ McCollum had an outstanding game for the New Orleans Pelicans, including difficult shots that found success, demoralizing the Warriors’ defense.
Last month, Stephen Curry suffered a similar ankle twist and had to sit out for 3 games. He spent over 2 hours in the locker room receiving treatment before meeting with the media. There, he provided an update on his ιnjury and offered some positive information to the fans.
“My ankle got twisted. But to be somewhat positive, compared to the number and severity of ankle sprains I’ve had in the past, this one is relatively mild. I think I’ll be fine, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Stephen Curry stated.
Stephen Curry believes he is okay after the ankle twist and will continue playing through the pаin.
This defeat has caused the Golden State Warriors to drop to 10th place in the Western Conference standings. The Los Angeles Lakers, with their win against the Memphis Grizzlies, have moved up to the 8th position. The 9th place currently belongs to the Sacramento Kings, who lost to the Phoenix Suns despite leading by 16 points at one point.
The Warriors still have a chance to improve their position for a better advantage in the Play-in Tournament, specifically aiming for the 9th place (home-court advantage in the first round) or even the 8th place (two chances). However, the destiny is no longer in the hands of Stephen Curry and his teammates.
In the final round of games, all Western Conference teams will play simultaneously at 2:30 AM on Monday, April 15th. Golden State will face the Utah Jazz, the Lakers will be away against the Pelicans, and the Kings will host the Trail Blazers.
If the Warriors win and both the Kings and Lakers lose, Golden State will jump to the 8th place. If the Kings lose and both the Warriors and Lakers win, Golden State will move up to the 9th place.
Will Stephen Curry be determined to play in the final Regular Season game? Or will he be given rest to ensure the best condition for the upcoming Play-in Tournament?
However, it is also possible that the Golden State Warriors will play it safe, preserve their core players (including Stephen Curry), and let fate decide their opponent in the NBA Play-in Tournament.
“That’s something we’ve considered but haven’t decided yet. We will finalize the plan either tomorrow or right before the game starts,” shared coach Steve Kerr.