The Boston Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors by 22 points tonight. However, the game was not the only thing they lost tonight. They also lost a good chance to be the 2nd seed in the West and lost their best player. Stephen Curry left the game against the Boston Celtics in the 2nd quarter to an ankle injury.
The hit felt by the Warriors was visible in the 2nd quarter. They went on to be outscored 25-15. Even with Curry, the Warriors had 3 quarters where they scored under 20 points. Till that point, Stephen Curry scored just 3 points on 25% shooting. Jordan Poole picked up the slack in scoring but it was not enough to combat the team effort from Boston.
Did Stephen Curry get injured on a dirty play?
With 4:24 left in the 2nd, the Warriors were on defense whilst down 8 points. Klay tipped the ball which left it no man’s land. Marcus Smart and Stephen Curry ran to it but Smart dove for the ball. His hustle helped Boston but his body landed on Curry’s ankles. On that same play, Smart fouled Klay who was on the fast break, and inadvertently kicked Klay.
Stephen Curry began limping and ended up leaving the game. Steve Kerr believed it was a dirty and dangerous play from Marcus and had a very visible and verbal argument with him. Stephen Curry had to undergo an MRI but the results are only to be revealed by the next morning according to sources. That makes Warriors fans have a very uneasy night’s sleep tonight.
Steve Kerr in the post-game press conference called Marcus Smart’s play ‘Dangerous’. Draymond Green also said his thoughts on the play that unfolded. He said this,
“Unnecessary, but I can’t call it a dirty play.”
He also said this about the kick on Klay Thompson.
“Shit happens. I kicked somebody before.”
Draymond Green on Marcus Smart’s dive for the ball that resulted in Steph Curry’s injury: pic.twitter.com/656yujqJtB
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) March 17, 2022
Draymond believes the injury could have been easily avoided but has no personal vendetta for how the play unfolded. A lot of the audience see this play as a hustle play, something players are rewarded for. It’s also one of Smart’s biggest qualities as a player.
The implications for the Warriors could be dire and need Klay and Draymond to pick up the slack till Curry returns. The Warriors could easily make the 2nd seed heading into the playoffs but now need to do it without their all-NBA guard.