SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry needed to be helped to the locker room after suffering a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter of the Golden State Warriors‘ home opener against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Curry had suffered an injury to the same ankle earlier in the game, but returned after receiving some attention from the training staff on the bench.
Here is the first incident from the third quarter.
And here is the second injury, which came just moments after he returned to the game. Following the second incident, Curry soon declared out for the remainder of the game with a left ankle sprain.
Curry had career-threatening ankle problems early in his NBA tenure, but has largely been able to avoid major issues in the latter portion of his Hall of Fame career. He entered the game having only averaged 26 minutes over the Warriors’ first two games of the season — historic blowouts over the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz — while putting up 18.5 points and seven assists per game. He had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds on Sunday at the time of his exit.
Needless to say that any hopes for Golden State success this season depend on a healthy and productive Curry, who has made an All-NBA team in 10 of the last 11 years. If he’s forced to miss time, point guard duties will likely be divided between guards Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton.