Stephen Curry signaled his return long before tip-off on Friday night, stunning fans at Chase Center. He made shot from nearly 100 feet moments before the game began.
As part of his usual pregame routine, Curry launched a heave from the tunnel leading onto the court after taking a short pass from a nearby security guard. The ball sailed beneath the scoreboard and dropped through the net. Curry sprinted away in celebration as fans erupted in disbelief.
Roughly an hour later, the Warriors star returned to game action for the first time in five contests after recovering from a left quad injury. The 37-year-old looked sharp, pouring in 39 points to go along with five assists and five rebounds in 32 minutes, though Golden State fell 127-120 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I felt pretty good early, then had to find my second wind,” Curry said. “Once I got into the flow, everything started to feel normal again. Individually, it was a solid first game back.”
Curry shot 14-of-28 from the field and recorded his eighth 30-point performance of the season. However, his effort wasn’t enough for a Warriors side missing key contributors, including Draymond Green, who remains out due to a team-excused absence, and Al Horford, sidelined with sciatica.
Golden State now sits at 13-13 heading into Sunday’s matchup with Portland, and the reliance on Curry remains clear. While his pregame heroics provided the night’s highlight, the inability to convert his strong return into a win raised further concerns.
Asked afterward about the long-distance shot that captivated the crowd, Curry offered a wry smile. “That’s the second one I’ve made,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a better night.”
