{"id":701453,"date":"2026-04-06T14:47:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/701453\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:47:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:47:29","slug":"warriors-steph-curry-gets-honest-on-how-injury-felt-during-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/701453\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors’ Steph Curry Gets Honest on How Injury Felt During Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Steph\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.<\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors<\/a> came agonizingly close to making Sunday night at Chase Center everything they had hoped for. Stephen Curry<\/a> scored 29 points in 26 minute<\/a>s, orchestrated a stunning fourth-quarter comeback from 14 down, and had a deep three at the buzzer to win it.<\/p>\n

It missed. Golden State fell 117-116 to the Houston Rockets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After the game, Curry sat down with reporters and was as open and honest as he has ever been about what the night meant.<\/p>\n

Curry Reveals He Was a Nervous Wreck Before the Game\"Stephen<\/p>\n

GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

Before a single shot was taken, Curry was already battling something. The hours leading up to tip-off on Easter Sunday were filled with nerves that even his family noticed at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a lot of nerves all day,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cMy family supported me at home when I was a nervous wreck trying to pass the hours before I get to the arena.\u201d<\/p>\n

He connected the moment to something bigger than basketball. Easter Sunday, he said, gave the night a different kind of meaning after everything he had been through over the past two months.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, this has been a special day to reflect and appreciate what I get to do every day, the gifts God\u2019s given me to be healthy, fight through this rehab stint, and be able to get back to the court and enjoy myself,\u201d Curry said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once he arrived at Chase Center and settled into his routine, the nerves faded. Muscle memory took over. The crowd\u2019s reception did the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate the fans and the reception, and just the buzz that was in the arena,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cAt a certain point, you won\u2019t be able to tap into that. So, very grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph Curry says he was a nervous wreck trying to pass the hours before getting to the arena for his return:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, this Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, this has been a special day to reflect and appreciate, again, what I get to do every day on a daily basis, the gifts <\/p>\n

How Curry\u2019s Return Unfolded for the Warriors<\/p>\n

Curry came off the bench to manage his minutes, entering with 4:54 left in the first quarter to a standing ovation. His first two possessions produced a travel and a blocked shot. He was unbothered by either.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I traveled and got my shot blocked the first two possessions, I kinda settled in nice,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cFirst run was tough, second run was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, the night built steadily. Seven points in the final six minutes of the second quarter. Eleven in the third. Eleven more in seven fourth-quarter minutes that had Chase Center on its feet. He finished 11-of-21 from the field and 5-of-10 from three<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Curry described the challenge of returning not as a matter of rust but endurance, picking his spots rather than going full throttle throughout.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that much rust as it\u2019s the endurance,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cYou\u2019re kind of picking and choosing a little bit of your spots to maintain. It\u2019s not like you\u2019re going 100 miles an hour the whole time. You do all the training and scrimmages and all that type of stuff, it\u2019s more like getting back familiar with the speed of the game, the physicality, and just embracing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steve Kerr<\/a> offered his own assessment of what he witnessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson<\/a>,\u201d Kerr said<\/a>. \u201cSteph looked amazing. His rhythm is our rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Warriors outscored the Rockets by 12 points in Curry\u2019s 26 minutes on the floor<\/a>. They were outscored by 13 in the 22 minutes he was not<\/a>. The split needs no further explanation.<\/p>\n

Steve Kerr on Steph Curry\u2019s 29 points: \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a tougher defender in the league for him to have his first game against than Amen Thompson. Steph looked amazing\u2026His rhythm is our rhythm.\u201d <\/p>\n

What Curry Said About Playing With Porzingis\"Kristaps<\/p>\n

GettyKristaps Porzingis of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

One of the most intriguing subplots of Sunday night was the first extended look at Curry alongside Kristaps Porzingis<\/a>. The combination was limited by foul trouble throughout, but Curry liked what he saw in the moments they shared the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we have a lot more to prove out there,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cHe had foul trouble the whole night, so there wasn\u2019t much of a rhythm for him. But there were a couple of possessions they tried to blitz me, KP\u2019s spacing the floor, the defense has to make a decision. More of those reps will be great for not just me and him, but for all of us to continue to build chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The closing stretch of the fourth quarter gave Curry a glimpse of something familiar. With Draymond Green<\/a> finding cutters, Gary Payton II<\/a> attacking the rim, and defenses forced to account for Curry on the perimeter, Golden State looked like a different team entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat group that we had down the stretch, it felt like old times just reading the defense,\u201d Curry said<\/a>. \u201cThey overreact to me on the perimeter, GP\u2019s going to the bucket, Draymond\u2019s finding guys. It was awesome. Tough finish, obviously, but I liked the way we finished the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steph Curry on his time with Kristaps Porzingis on the court:<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we have a lot more to prove out there. I know he was in foul trouble the whole night, but there were a couple of possessions they tried to blitz me, you know, get somebody in the pocket. KP\u2019s spacing the <\/p>\n

Final Word for the Warriors<\/p>\n

Twenty-seven games. Two months of uncertainty. One nervous Easter Sunday at home with family before heading to the arena.<\/p>\n

Curry is back. The chemistry with Porzingis is just beginning. Four regular season games remain before the play-in begins.<\/p>\n

He made his focus for the week clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I can settle in to how we\u2019re gonna finish the year<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKeith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Warriors\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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