Warriors Face Uphill Battle Without Curry in Game 5
Ohm YoungmisukMay 13, 2025, 03:07 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are in a precarious position as they head into Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With their season hanging by a thread, the absence of their superstar, Stephen Curry, looms large. Curry, who has been sidelined with a left hamstring injury, has made it clear that he does not expect to return to the court for Wednesday’s crucial matchup.
“Even if I wanted to be Superman, I couldn’t,” Curry candidly told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears on Monday night, acknowledging the limitations imposed by his injury.
The Warriors’ hopes of advancing in the playoffs have been significantly dampened by Curry’s absence. Without him, they suffered a 117-110 defeat in Game 4 against the Timberwolves, leaving them trailing 3-1 in the series. Now, they must secure a victory in Minneapolis to keep their season alive, a daunting task without their star player.
Curry’s injury, a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, occurred during the second quarter of Game 1 on May 6. He is set to be reevaluated on Wednesday, but the likelihood of his return remains uncertain. Should the Warriors manage to extend the series, Curry could potentially have an additional three days to recover before a possible Game 6 at home on Sunday.
Teammate Draymond Green emphasized the importance of not rushing Curry back into action. “No, we’re not going to Superman this thing,” Green stated. “If he’s in a place where he can play, I’m sure he will. Him and Rick [Celebrini, Warriors vice president of player health and performance] and everybody will figure that out. But we don’t need [Curry to try to be] Superman.”
Green’s comments highlight the team’s focus on the long-term picture, rather than risking further injury to their key player. “Got to play the long game. If he can, we know he will. But there’s no pressure. We’ve got to figure out how to win whether he plays or not,” Green added.
In Game 4, the Warriors struggled without Curry, particularly during a 17-0 run by the Timberwolves in the third quarter that turned a tied game into a decisive lead for Minnesota. The Warriors were outscored 39-17 in that quarter, a deficit they couldn’t overcome.
Adding to the Warriors’ woes, Jimmy Butler was not at his best, managing only 14 points and six rebounds after taking just nine shots. Green revealed that Butler had been feeling ill, which affected his performance. “We obviously need him shooting the ball,” Green said. “But their defense, they were collapsing on him today. So, we tried to pick up that slack. But I know he’s not feeling well; been pretty crappy all day. That also affects the energy, as well. No excuses made here.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the need for Butler to be more aggressive in the upcoming game. “He wasn’t as aggressive tonight,” Kerr said. “But I didn’t see a lot of openings, either. Ideally, we could put more shooting around him to open up the floor a little bit. But with Steph out, we’re not going to be able to do as much of that.”
On the other side, Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards expressed his desire to compete against Curry. “Trust me, man, I wish he could be out there to play against him, no matter how it goes,” Edwards said. “But yeah, just from working out with him in the summer, that’s what I told him after I hit a [3]. Because he told me, I had missed one. He was like, ‘You wasn’t going to make that. You was too open.'”
Edwards’ respect for Curry is evident, as he added, “I was like, ‘I ain’t never going to stop shooting them. I learned that from you this summer.’ He’s the greatest. Greatest shooter of all time. I would definitely love to compete against him, man, but he got hurt, unfortunately, and I hope he gets better.”
As the Warriors prepare for Game 5, the pressure is on to find a way to win without their talisman. The team will need to rally together, with players like Butler stepping up to fill the void left by Curry’s absence. The road ahead is challenging, but the Warriors are no strangers to adversity. Whether they can overcome this latest hurdle remains to be seen.
Originally Written by: Ohm Youngmisuk
