Stephen Curry is back, and it didn’t take long for him to remind everyone what he changes when he hits the court.
After a 27-game absence, Curry dropped 29 points in just 26 minutes against the Houston Rockets, nearly willing the Golden State Warriors to a comeback win.
Down double digits late, Curry led a surge in the final minutes and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, a deep 30-footer that just missed as Golden State fell 117–116.
“Looked great when it left his hands,” said Kevin Durant. “I was a little nervous seeing that ball in the air.”
Curry’s return didn’t start smoothly. Coming off the bench by choice to manage his workload, he checked in midway through the first quarter but struggled early.
“First run was rough,” Curry said. “Second run was great.”
That second run came quickly. He began to find rhythm before halftime, then took over in stretches across the third and fourth quarters, scoring 22 of his 29 points after the break.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the level of difficulty in Curry’s return matchup.
“I don’t think there’s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson,” Kerr said. “That’s quite a test. Steph looked amazing.”
Despite the loss, the bigger takeaway was clear, Curry’s presence immediately shifts everything for Golden State.
“You can just feel it,” Kerr said. “We’re back in the mix. We’re back in the fight with Steph. … It doesn’t take much for him to find his rhythm. His rhythm is also our rhythm. … He changes everything.”
Curry, meanwhile, is staying measured as he works back from what he described as a lingering knee issue.
“Got to be smart and do the right thing for the right reasons,” Curry said. “All I’m looking forward to is Tuesday.”
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