It was a backbreaker. It was a hand-breaker. It was, in all likelihood, a season-ender for the Warriors.
It took six days for the season to speed around the toilet heading for the drain. A third blowout loss was coming. But Stephen Curry wasn’t around to see the end of it.
The lone superstar remaining on the Warriors went up against a standing-his-ground Aron Baynes and came down just before Baynes, the 260-pounder crushing Curry’s left hand and breaking it.
After the 121-110 loss to the Suns at Chase Center on Thursday, Curry was headed to the hospital for a CT scan to determine if he needs surgery. For reference, Rajon Rondo broke his right hand last year and, after surgery, returned five weeks later.
“Obviously it’s been a tough start for us on many levels. Just trying to find our footing,” Steve Kerr said after Golden State fell to 1-3 and faces the prospect of a lengthy Curry-less stretch. “Obviously this puts us in a tough spot.”
That’s an understatement for a team that was in major trouble even with one of the best players in the world. Without him — and in the context of a rout at the Suns’ hands — Ky Bowman played well, 10 points and three steals and a plus-17 plus/minus. Jordan Poole will see more minutes.
Ready or not, here comes the youth. And, likely, a lot of losses for a team that isn’t used to many.
“It’s a great opportunity for these young guys to play. It’s also a little bit too much,” Kerr said. “You want to bring along rookies as best you can, and we’re just putting so much on their plate, but we have no choice with all the injuries. They have to seize the opportunity.”
The offense will become D’Angelo Russell’s and Draymond Green’s — the star forward also gimpy, appearing to hurt his back at one instance. Russell was forced into leadership with Brooklyn last season when Caris LeVert went down and grabbed the reins to a surprise All-Star bid.
“It’s definitely a similar situation,” said Russell, who went 5-for-12 for 15 points and a minus-28. “… Definitely try to take on that leadership role and continue to get better every year with being under guys with what I see and what I’ve been through.”
The Warriors were eager to look ahead, already adopting the next-man-up approach that has little chance of succeeding. Baynes wanted to look back.
The Phoenix big man who crushed Curry and the Warriors’ hopes went up to Kerr after the game asking about Curry’s status.
“I feel terrible for what happened to Steph, unfortunate,” said the 6-10 center. “You never want to see someone go down and get hurt, let alone be a part of it. Best wishes to him and hopefully a speedy recovery and he comes back better.”
Whenever he comes back, the Warriors will be worse. And, possibly, done.
