After 27 long games on the sideline, the greatest shooter in NBA history walked back onto the court in San Francisco. He delivered 29 points in just 26 minutes and nearly pulled off a stunning comeback. The Warriors came agonizingly close, and the crowd felt every single second.
The final buzzer said 117–116 in favor of Houston. But nobody inside Chase Center left feeling empty. Curry was back, moving like himself, shooting like himself, and competing like the champion he has always been. The play-in tournament just got a whole lot more interesting for Golden State.
Let’s take a closer look.
The injury that kept Steph away for two months
Curry’s absence started as a minor concern and turned into a two-month ordeal that tested everyone’s patience. He last played on January 30 against the Detroit Pistons. What the team initially believed was a short-term issue quickly became a longer recovery. He was originally expected to miss only seven to ten days.
The injury was eventually diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome with bone bruising in his right knee. Curry described the knee pain and swelling as his “new normal.” He confirmed there is no structural damage but acknowledged that managing the condition requires patience and care.
The Warriors struggled hard without him
Golden State’s record without Curry told an uncomfortable truth about how much the team depends on its star. The Warriors went just 9–18 during his 27-game absence. The team’s identity and offensive system are built around his movement, gravity, and shooting threat.
Without him, opponents defended differently, and Golden State struggled to generate clean looks. The Warriors fell to 36–42 on the season. That record puts them below .500 for the first time since 2019–20. The team’s playoff hopes now depend entirely on surviving the Western Conference play-in tournament, where every possession matters.
Fun fact: Curry’s pre-game warmup routine is so popular that fans are drawn to arenas hours before tip-off to witness it. It has become a pregame show in itself, drawing cheers even before tip-off.
A standing ovation before he even scored
The moment Curry stepped onto the court, Chase Center turned into something more than a basketball game. Curry’s return clearly got a standing ovation and a strong in-arena welcome, and he quickly settled in with five made threes on the night.
Curry also appeared on video to thank supporters before the game began. His first possession included a flailing miss and a travel call. The rust was real. But just moments later, he buried a deep three-pointer through two defenders. The crowd erupted. It was classic Curry, served up right on cue.
The numbers behind a statement night
Twenty-nine points in 26 minutes off the bench. That stat line speaks volumes about what Curry brings to a game. Curry shot 11-for-21 from the field and went 5-for-10 from three-point range. He also added four assists and two rebounds while playing under a strict minutes restriction.
His efficiency on limited rest was remarkable for a 38-year-old returning from injury. The performance also included a historic milestone. Curry became the 26th player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career field goals. The achievement, which landed quietly in the middle of a night already full of big moments.
Kevin Durant and the Rockets had the last word
The night belonged to Curry emotionally, but the Rockets made sure they had the final say on the scoreboard.
Kevin Durant, playing his first game back in San Francisco as a Houston Rocket, scored a game-high 31 points. He also added eight assists and eight rebounds. Alperen Sengun added 24 points and sealed the win with a go-ahead layup with just 11.1 seconds remaining.
Curry had pulled the Warriors ahead with a three-pointer between Sengun and Amen Thompson moments before. Gary Payton II then converted a layup on a goaltending call to make it a one-point Warriors lead. Sengun answered immediately. Golden State had one final look, but Curry’s 30-footer from mid-court rattled off the rim.
Fun fact: Durant said postgame that he was “a little nervous” watching Curry’s buzzer attempt fly through the air. Even Curry’s misses make opponents sweat.
What the loss means for the Warriors’ playoff chances
The Warriors are locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Golden State will face either the LA Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers in a do-or-die game. With Curry back, the team’s offensive ceiling rises dramatically compared to what opponents have prepared for.
Coach Steve Kerr said the atmosphere shifted the moment Curry returned. He pointed to veteran center Al Horford, also returning from a calf strain in the coming days, as another boost. With Curry healthy and the roster getting closer to full strength, the Warriors believe they can compete in the postseason.
The bigger legacy being written in real time
Curry is a four-time NBA champion, a two-time MVP, and the only unanimous MVP in league history. He also holds the NBA’s all-time 3-point record and is the career leader in free-throw percentage at about .912. He won MVP in 2015 and 2016, as well. His influence on how basketball is played at every level is unmatched.
His return on this Easter Sunday night was not just a feel-good story. It was a reminder that greatness does not come with an expiration date. Curry, averaging 27.2 points per game this season at age 38, is evidence that the greatest shooter of all time still has plenty left to give.
TL;DR
- Stephen Curry returned from a 27-game absence on April 5, 2026, scoring 29 points in just 26 minutes against the Houston Rockets.
- The Warriors lost 117–116 on a late Alperen Sengun layup after Curry’s buzzer-beater missed.
- Curry hit 11-of-21 from the field and 5-of-10 from three while playing under a strict minutes limit.
- He became the 26th player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career field goals during the game.
If you liked this story, don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
If you liked this, you might also like:
