Injury Ends Season for Two Major NBA Stars
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss his team’s crucial Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs, as he has not fully recovered from injury.
The Warriors listed Curry, who is dealing with a thigh injury, among the absentees for the match, which could prove decisive as the team trails 1-3 in the series.
The Timberwolves have won three consecutive games in Curry’s absence. The two-time MVP (2015 and 2016) and 11-time All-Star sustained the injury during Game 1, which his team won on May 6 in Minnesota, 99-88.
Following medical examinations, his absence was initially estimated to last no less than one week. However, the player has recently expressed pessimism about a swift return. If his team—seven-time NBA champions, most recently in 2022—can survive without their captain, Game 6 will be held Sunday in San Francisco.
The winner of this best-of-seven series will face the victor of the Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup, with the latter currently leading 3-2.
Tatum and Boston’s Run in Jeopardy
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has suffered a torn Achilles tendon during his team’s loss to the New York Knicks, putting him out of action for an extended period.
A club statement read: “Jayson Tatum underwent successful surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. There is no specific timeline for his return, but a full recovery is expected. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
Tatum was carried off the court in the fourth quarter of the game, which ended in a 113-121 defeat for Boston, putting them on the brink of elimination as the Knicks took a 3-1 lead in the series.
Tatum, a six-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA in Tokyo and Paris, collapsed in pain at Madison Square Garden after delivering a stellar performance with 42 points. He was later taken to the locker room in a wheelchair—a scene that drew widespread sympathy from teammates and NBA stars alike.
Knicks star Josh Hart said after the game: “I hate that this happened. The NBA is one family, and we’re praying for him.”
“King” LeBron James posted a message of support on X, and other athletes from various sports also expressed solidarity.
Tatum’s injury significantly complicates the Celtics’ chances of a comeback, as they trail 1-3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks can clinch a spot in the Conference Finals with a win in Boston.
The injury also casts a shadow over the team’s future, as an Achilles tear typically requires a recovery period of up to a year.
Kevin Durant, for instance, was sidelined for about 18 months following a similar injury during the 2019 NBA Finals. He missed the entire 2019-2020 season while with the Brooklyn Nets and didn’t return to action until December 2020.
Likewise, Dallas Mavericks player Klay Thompson spent an extended period sidelined after tearing his Achilles in November 2020 while with the Golden State Warriors. He didn’t return until January 2022.
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