Stephen Curry to Miss Two Weeks After MRI Confirms Oblique Abdominal Tear
Table of Contents
You might want to know
- What happened when Stephen Curry left the Warriors’ game against Houston, and what did the MRI reveal?
- How could Curry’s injury affect Golden State after its eight-game winning streak?
Main Topic
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry left Wednesday night’s game against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter after experiencing soreness on his right side. He did not return. An MRI conducted later that night confirmed an oblique abdominal tear, and the team said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks. The injury update followed an initially uncertain account of the problem, when Curry described having tweaked something in his abdominal area.
The injury occurred after Curry made a 3-pointer, his only basket of the game. With about 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter, he put a hand to his right side and winced as he moved back down the court. He then went over to head coach Steve Kerr and headed to the locker room. As he left the court, Curry appeared to be in pain, walked carefully, and continued holding his right side.
Kerr said Curry told him he had tweaked something in his abdominal area and had never experienced that kind of injury before. After the game, but before the imaging results were available, Kerr acknowledged that concern was high. The MRI subsequently provided a clearer diagnosis: an oblique abdominal tear. The team’s update described Curry as having exited the game with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter because of the injury, and confirmed that he would be evaluated again in two weeks.
The MRI confirmation changed the situation from an initial report of soreness to a diagnosed tear, with a two-week re-evaluation period. That timetable does not itself establish when Curry will return to play. A re-evaluation is a scheduled opportunity for the team to review his condition and determine what comes next; it is not necessarily a firm return date.
Houston defeated Golden State 115-108, ending the Warriors’ eight-game winning streak. The result came after the team had rebounded from an 0-3 start. Curry had been a major contributor during that run, leading the Warriors in scoring in six of their eight wins. His absence, depending on the course of recovery and subsequent medical assessments, could therefore affect the team’s lineup and offensive responsibilities while he is unavailable.
Curry entered the game ranked second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 30.6 points per game. He is a two-time Kia MVP and a 12-time All-Star, and he is 38 years old. Those details help explain why his injury is a significant development for Golden State, but they do not by themselves predict the length or outcome of his recovery. The information available in the team’s update is limited to the MRI finding and the plan to re-evaluate him in two weeks.
The report also noted Curry’s movement on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, saying he moved up in the Top 20 for the second time in less than a week. It included other injury updates from around the league: Minnesota’s 26-year-old shooting guard had scored 92 points in four games with Anthony Edwards sidelined; Lauri Markkanen was scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering two right hand fractures against Dallas; and Vit Krejčí had undergone surgery to repair a fractured left ankle and was set to be re-evaluated in eight weeks.
These additional updates provide context about the range of injuries and recovery schedules reported across the NBA, but they are separate from Curry’s diagnosis. His case involves an oblique abdominal tear, while the other players’ situations involve different injuries and individual assessments. Recovery timelines should therefore be understood as specific to each player rather than directly compared as a measure of severity.
For Golden State, the immediate known facts are straightforward: Curry left the Houston game in the first quarter, an MRI confirmed an oblique abdominal tear, and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Until that assessment, the team’s practical challenge is to manage his recovery while adjusting its rotation and scoring responsibilities. The reported information does not specify a return date or describe a treatment plan beyond the upcoming evaluation.
Key Insights Table
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Injury diagnosis | An MRI confirmed that Stephen Curry has an oblique abdominal tear after he left the game with right abdominal soreness. |
| Re-evaluation | Curry will be re-evaluated in two weeks; the update does not provide a confirmed return-to-play date. |
| Game outcome | Houston beat Golden State 115-108, ending the Warriors’ eight-game winning streak. |
| Curry’s scoring | He entered the game ranked second in the NBA at 30.6 points per game and had led Golden State in scoring in six of its eight wins. |
| Other injury updates | Lauri Markkanen was to be re-evaluated in four weeks after two right hand fractures, while Vit Krejčí was to be re-evaluated in eight weeks after surgery on a fractured left ankle. |
Afterwards...
The next meaningful update on Curry is expected after the team’s planned re-evaluation in two weeks. That assessment can help clarify how the injury is progressing and whether additional recovery time or further steps are needed. Until then, the distinction between an evaluation date and a return date remains important: the first is confirmed, while the second has not been announced.
More broadly, professional sports continue to rely on imaging, careful symptom monitoring, and individualized medical review to guide injury decisions. Advances in diagnostic technology may help clinicians characterize injuries and track recovery, while sports science can support decisions about workload and a safe return to competition. Such tools are most useful when their findings are considered alongside each athlete’s symptoms and professional medical judgment.
For teams and fans, the most responsible approach is to follow verified updates and avoid treating preliminary timelines as guarantees. Further progress in injury assessment and evidence-based rehabilitation may improve how athletes recover, while keeping health and long-term function at the center of decision-making.
Last edited at:2026/11/12
