Stephen Curry missed the Warriors' second-round exit due to a hamstring injury but revealed he was close to returning for a potential Game 6 had the team extended the series.
The Golden State Warriors were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs after a 121–110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on Wednesday night.
Golden State Warriors / Schedule
It marked the fourth straight game without Stephen Curry, who had been sidelined with a strained left hamstring since the second quarter of Game 1.
It's hard not to wonder how things might have gone if Curry had been healthy.
"All we wanted was a chance," Steph said during the team's exit interviews. "To finish the year like we did, to sneak in the playoffs and win that first round, there's a lot to be proud of for sure, considering where we were."
"But definitely disappointed, and frankly just sad that I wasn't out there able to play," he added. "We have, hopefully, a bright future in terms of coming back next year and trying again."
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Curry also revealed that he was close to returning and likely would've played in a Game 6, had the Warriors extended the series.
"Everything was kind of aligned for Game 6. I had some testing to do, who knows how that would've went," Curry said. "First time dealing with this injury, I was pretty optimistic, but there were a couple more checkpoints to get through. But it's the great 'what-if.'"
With Curry and Jimmy Butler in the lineup, the Warriors went 23–7 and managed to knock off the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.
Team officials remain confident in the duo and Draymond Green and reportedly have no plans to pursue another star this offseason. Instead, the focus will be on strengthening the supporting cast.
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