Injured Steph Curry 'questionable' for game two of playoffs

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry was listed as "questionable" by the Warriors for Monday's Game Two after twisting his ankle during Golden State's 104-78 win over Houston in their Western Conference playoffs opener on Saturday.

Curry had 24 points on eight-of-13 shooting, including 16 points in the first quarter, before rolling his right ankle late in the second quarter of the first-round series opener in Oakland, California.

The league's leading scorer, Curry went to the locker room for examination just before halftime and returned to play the first 2:47 of the third quarter before Golden State coach Steve Kerr called a timeout and took his star out of the game.

"I didn't like the way he was moving when he went back out for the third quarter," Kerr told reporters. "He wanted to stay in but he wasn't moving well so we weren't going to play him regardless."

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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors smiles and laughs

Image credit: AFP

Asked for an update on Curry's status, Kerr replied: "As far as Monday, I would just say Steph is questionable, so we'll see how he responds the next couple of days and we'll go from there.

"As far as I understand, he rolled his ankle. I don't know how bad it is. We're not going to let him play if there is any risk of making it worse.

"Obviously we're hoping that we're going to be in the playoffs for the next couple of months so we don't want to take any chances."

Curry, speaking at a post-game news conference, sounded determined to play Game Two, but also issued a note of caution.

"Right now, I don't see a scenario where I'll be out. If it's not right, and I'm at risk of further injury or what-not, that's the only thing to worry about," he said.

"Pain tolerance, I know what I can deal with on the court, but you don't want anything more serious to happen, favoring an ankle or what-not, so that's what we'll pay attention to the next two days."

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In the match itself, Golden State Warriors built a big early lead to thump the Houston Rockets 104-78 in the opener of the Western Conference first-round series in Oakland, California.

In a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals, the Warriors hounded Houston into 2-of-13 shooting from the field to begin the game and frustrated the Rockets to the point that point guard Patrick Beverley scuffled briefly with Curry just 5:29 into the game.

Both players received technical fouls.

The Warriors responded like champs, getting two 3-pointers from Curry in a 14-6 burst that broke the game open at 25-10 in the 10th minute.

With Curry single-handedly outscoring the Rockets, the Warriors led 33-15 at quarter's end, having limited Houston to 6-of-20 shooting from the field.

Holding Houston star James Harden to four points on 2-for-9 shooting from the floor, the Warriors went on to build a 60-33 halftime advantage, but not before getting a scare from Curry.

Attempting to deny Harden on a drive to the hoop, Curry turned his right ankle in the final two minutes of the half in what appeared to be a minor incident.

He missed the final 1:07 of the half, having already burned the Rockets for 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

Game Two will be played in Oakland on Monday. Curry's participation appears to be in doubt, based on Kerr's post-game comments.

"I would just say Steph is questionable, so we'll see how he responds the next couple of days and we'll go from there," Kerr said.

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