The Golden State Warriors suffered a tough road loss in Game 2 of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs, falling 117–93 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The absence of their franchise cornerstone, Stephen Curry—who exited Game 1 with an injury—was clearly felt on both ends of the court.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Curry will not return for Game 4 as previously speculated. Instead, his earliest possible return is now projected for Game 6. It’s a significant setback for the Warriors, whose postseason hopes may now rest on the shoulders of their second star.
Without Curry, Golden State’s offense looked stagnant. No player scored more than 17 points—Jimmy Butler led the team in scoring—and the Warriors struggled to find rhythm or generate open looks. Curry’s gravity as a floor spacer and offensive engine was sorely missed, as the Timberwolves’ defense was able to collapse without fearing his perimeter threat.
The Warriors now head back to San Francisco for Game 3, hoping home court provides a spark. With Curry sidelined, the team will look to Butler to carry the offensive load and deliver the kind of high-impact playoff performance he’s known for. They’ll also need key contributions from their supporting cast to stay alive in the series.
Stephen Curry takes a shot against Mike Conley during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.
What did Curry say about his injury?
On Thursday morning, Curry was seen participating in the team’s shooting session, briefly raising hopes of a quick return. However, he later addressed his recovery in an interview shared by Anthony Slater on X (formerly Twitter).
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“No,” Curry said when asked if he’d be back soon. “From all that I’m learning about how quickly you can get back, there has to be a healing process. You can’t accelerate.” This is the first time in his career he’s dealt with a hamstring injury.
What’s next for the Warriors?
With Curry unavailable, Butler will need to step up offensively and lead the team with playoff-level urgency. Buddy Hield’s shooting efficiency must remain high, while Draymond Green must focus on attacking the paint with more purpose. Jonathan Kuminga is also expected to make a bigger impact off the bench, ideally regaining the form he showed during the NBA midseason stretch.
Defensively, the Warriors must find a way to limit Anthony Edwards’ scoring runs and contain Naz Reid’s paint presence. Rudy Gobert also presents a challenge with his intensity inside. Frontcourt players like Quentin Post, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Kevon Looney will have to put in serious work to slow Minnesota’s bigs.
In Game 2, Golden State used 13 different players in the first 14 minutes—an indication that head coach Steve Kerr is still searching for the right rotation in a series suddenly defined by Curry’s absence.
