Golden State guard Stephen Curry electrified Chase Center on Sunday night, pouring in 29 points in his first appearance after a 27-game absence caused by patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee.
Entering from the bench for the first time since the 2011-12 season, the two-time MVP checked in with 4:54 remaining in the opening quarter and was greeted by a 45-second standing ovation. He finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, and collected four assists in 26 minutes against the Houston Rockets.
“He just infuses the whole team with confidence,” head coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “There’s a different energy in the building. He’s Steph Curry for a reason.”
Curry’s first basket—a left-wing three with 34.1 seconds left in the first period—sparked a vintage stretch. Houston deployed frequent double-teams, yet the 36-year-old repeatedly found space, drilling several deep fourth-quarter shots and flashing his trademark shimmy after converting an and-one. His 30-foot heave over two defenders at the buzzer narrowly missed, leaving Golden State short of a full comeback.
“The first quarter was tough; the second one was great,” Curry said. “Once I got my feet under me, all the rehab work showed. The adrenaline and the crowd carried me.” He acknowledged pregame nerves but called the night “a beautiful day” and said he now looks forward to closing out the season.
At 36-42, the Warriors occupy the Western Conference’s No. 10 spot and would need two road wins in the play-in tournament to face defending champion Oklahoma City. Curry expressed confidence that his return boosts those odds. “We can’t sleepwalk through the last four games,” he noted. “These are meaningful minutes to prepare for do-or-die basketball.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
