Thursday’s NBA slate had a little of everything: scary injuries, flying fists, a scuffle, and one old star remembering who he is. But the biggest story might be Steph Curry and his potentially concerning injury. Let’s get into it.
Warriors Lose Steph Curry and a Winning Streak, and Marcus Smart Loses His Cool
The Golden State Warriors’ eight-game winning streak ended at the hands of the Houston Rockets, and that may be the least of their worries. Steph Curry, who entered the night averaging 30.6 points, hit a 28-foot three early in the first quarter, yelled in pain after the release, and signaled toward the bench. He soon left for the locker room, was ruled out with right abdominal soreness, and headed out for an MRI on his abdomen and oblique during the second half.
Coach Steve Kerr was blunt about it afterward: “Concern is high.” The Warriors are already without Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, who are out with long-term knee injuries, and Kristaps Porzingis has stepped away from the sport entirely. Losing Steph Curry could be a huge blow.
Golden State did claw back from a 19-10 deficit to tie the game, but the Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 115-108 win, with Alperen Sengun flirting with a triple-double (19 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists) on a balanced attack. Kevin Durant led Houston with 20 points, Amen Thompson added 19 and 7 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet chipped in 18 points and 6 assists. Yaxel Lendeborg carried the fight for Golden State with 25 points and 10 boards.
The night also got ugly. With 21 seconds left in the third quarter, Rockets guard Marcus Smart threw a right hook that grazed the nose of Warriors center Charles Bassey after the two had gone face to face following a Thompson transition bucket. Referees ruled it a flagrant foul 2, an automatic ejection, but Smart did not wait around for the verdict and headed straight to the locker room. Bassey was not impressed. He called out Smart’s “fake toughness” after the game.
Lakers Win No. 7, but Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic Leave Hurting
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-112, to extend their winning streak to seven games and improve to a league-best 11-2. The cost was steep. Austin Reaves landed awkwardly after a missed fast-break dunk early in the third quarter, subbed himself out, and limped off with a left heel injury. He did not return. Coach JJ Redick said X-rays at the arena came back negative and ruled out concerns about the Achilles, but more imaging awaits back in Los Angeles. Reaves had 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in just 25 minutes.
Luka Doncic, who is having a torrid start to the season like Steph Curry, gave everyone a scare of his own. He turned his right ankle with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter on a jumper after contact from Kyle Kuzma, but seemingly avoided serious injury and finished with 32 points. He told reporters he was good. Collin Sexton also had a second-half scare. Sandro Mamukelashvili, a former second-round pick of the Bucks, matched his season high with 23 points.
For Milwaukee, there was a bit of drama. Tyler Herro, who missed Tuesday’s game with a bruised right knee, returned with 25 points and 7 assists, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored a season-high 23. The two stars and the Bucks also lost their eighth straight, falling to 1-11. Late in the third quarter, Herro and Ziaire Williams were whistled for technical fouls following a scuffle in the waning seconds.
James Harden Remembers Who He Is
It has been a rough start for James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but Wednesday was a reminder of why the Cavs bet on him. The 37-year-old scored a season-high 32 points, including a fourth-quarter three-pointer that put the visitors ahead for good in a 115-107 win over the New York Knicks.
Harden’s 32 was more than double his average through a tough start to the season, and a big jump for a guard who scored more than 20 points just once in his first 11 games despite signing a three-year, $97 million extension in August. After the game, Harden joked that it was his 18th year and that he used to score a lot of points.
The win also meant something bigger. It ended Cleveland’s five-game losing streak against the Knicks, which dated to the Eastern Conference finals in May, when New York swept the series on its way to the title. Donovan Mitchell had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Jarrett Allen added 11 points and 14 rebounds. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double for the 11th straight game, and Jalen Brunson scored 27.
