We detail Stephen Curry's injury: what he will miss with the Warriors

Stephen Curry will be out of action for at least two weeks after suffering a tear in his abdominal oblique, although early forecasts within the franchise suggest a potentially longer absence. According to Shams Charania from ESPN, the Golden State Warriors are preparing for the possibility of missing their star player for nearly a month.

The injury occurred during the game on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, which ended in a defeat for Golden State. Curry had to leave the game with 6 minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter and subsequently underwent an MRI that confirmed the extent of the physical problem.

The guard started clutching his right side just a few minutes after the game began. Despite the discomfort, he tried to continue playing, though he looked to the bench several times seeking the attention of the medical staff.

One of the most concerning moments came with 7:22 left in the first quarter. After using a screen from Draymond Green, Curry made a three-pointer from about eight meters, but immediately after the shot, he yelled in pain and gestured to the bench for assistance.

The concern in Golden State is significant. Steve Kerr, the Warriors' coach, acknowledged that the player himself had explained that this pain was completely different from any he had experienced before.

"The concern is high," Kerr admitted after the game.

Stephen Curry will miss at least seven games

The diagnosis represents a significant setback for the Warriors, who will be without their main reference for a crucial part of the schedule. Curry will miss at least the next seven games against the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and Portland Trail Blazers.

The franchise will reassess his situation after this recovery period, although the likelihood of a month-long absence is starting to gain traction.

The injury comes at one of Curry's best individual moments of this season. The guard was averaging 27.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in just 26.3 minutes per game. His shooting percentages were also extraordinary, with 45.7% accuracy from beyond the arc, the best mark of his career.

His impact has been crucial in explaining Golden State's recent positive momentum, which had included eight consecutive victories before falling to Houston.

The Warriors had managed to go 19-10 behind when Curry left the court. They later reacted and equalized the score but ended up losing by seven points, putting an end to their winning streak.

Before leaving the arena to undergo the MRI, Curry took the break to address his teammates. He urged them to stay focused on the game and reassured them about his ability to overcome this new physical setback.

The Warriors punished by injuries

Curry's absence is another blow to a roster that is already dealing with significant physical issues.

Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, two of the team's starting forwards, are recovering from long-term injuries to their respective knees. They are joined by Kristaps Porzingis, who was supposed to play an important role as starting center but has been away from both the team and basketball.

To make matters worse, Brandon Williams will also be out for at least a week after suffering a hamstring strain.

The situation forces Golden State to seek alternatives to maintain their competitiveness while awaiting the return of their star player. Draymond Green, however, believes the team is better prepared than last season to handle such a situation.

"The spirit of this team is better. We have a clearer understanding of who we are and what makes us a good team. I think that puts us in a better position to succeed without him compared to last year," Green explained.

The forward also highlighted Yaxel Lendeborg's ability to create advantages with the ball and Brandin Podziemski's improvement as arguments for facing this period without Curry.

The comparison to last season doesn't exactly inspire optimism. The Warriors ended up with a record of 13 wins and 26 losses in the 39 games that Stephen Curry missed during that campaign. In the current season, Golden State has a record of 1-1 without their star.

Now, the franchise will need to prove that it has truly evolved as a collective. In the meantime, the priority will be to recover Curry without taking unnecessary risks with an abdominal injury that could keep him off the court for nearly a month.