Stephen Curry Scores 29 in Return, But Warriors Fall to Rockets
Curry looked sharp after missing 27 games, but Alperen Sengun’s game-winner lifted Houston to a 117–116 victory.
Stephen Curry made his long-awaited return Sunday night, and he looked every bit like the superstar fans remembered. After missing 27 games with a knee injury, Curry came off the bench for the first time in a regular season game since 2012 and poured in 29 points in just 26 minutes.
Curry shot 11-of-21 from the field and 5-of-10 from deep, sparking multiple Warriors runs and nearly delivering a buzzer-beater from the top of the key. But his heroics weren’t enough to prevent a fourth straight loss, as Alperen Sengun scored the decisive layup to give the Houston Rockets a 117–116 win.
The Chase Center crowd erupted when Curry checked in midway through the first quarter. He immediately assisted on a dunk and then drilled a trademark deep three. By the third quarter, he was in rhythm, scoring 11 points and fueling an 11–0 run. His clutch three in the final minute briefly gave Golden State hope, but Sengun’s finish sealed it for Houston.
Brandin Podziemski added 18 points and Gui Santos chipped in 15 for the Warriors, who now sit at 36–42, 10th in the Western Conference.
Houston, meanwhile, extended its winning streak to six games. Kevin Durant led the way with 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Sengun finished with 24 points and seven assists.
Curry, 38, revealed he’s working toward a “new normal” with his knee after being diagnosed with patella-femoral pain syndrome and bone bruising. Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Curry is on a minutes restriction, with the goal of ramping up for the play-in tournament.
“It was more of a mental thing at first,” Curry said of the injury. “You really have to let it rest. There’s nothing you can push through.”
With just four games left, Curry’s return could be the spark Golden State needs to salvage its season.
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