Following an MRI on Wednesday which revealed a mild strain of his left hamstring, the Golden State Warriors anticipate playing without Stephen Curry for a minimum of their next three second-round series games against Minnesota.

Following a Tuesday night injury that necessitated his departure early in the second quarter of Game 1, which the Warriors ultimately won 99-88, the team announced that Curry is expected to be sidelined for at least a week; he had contributed 13 points in 13 minutes, aiding Golden State in establishing a significant lead and securing home-court advantage against the Timberwolves.

Coach Steve Kerr explained that the playoffs always require teams to adapt, whether it's changing their plan, dealing with injuries, or adjusting the players on the court. He said, "We have faced these situations before, and we are sure we can do it again."

The second game of the series is scheduled for Thursday in Minneapolis, followed by a shift westward to San Francisco for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday. It seems the earliest possibility for Curry's return is Game 5 on May 14th, which is fortuitously followed by three consecutive rest days prior to Game 6 on May 18th.

Curry has never had a big hamstring injury before, which makes it unclear how long he will be out and if the Warriors can keep playing well enough without the best 3-point shooter in NBA history until he can come back near the end of the series. But it would not be smart for them to expect that.

Kerr asserted, "We are confident in possessing the league's premier defense, a fact substantiated over the preceding months."

However, the current Golden State roster pales in comparison to its predecessors, particularly when Curry and Draymond Green were in their prime and key contributors such as Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala were pivotal to their triumphs. By 2018, they had also acquired Kevin Durant.

Presently, the Warriors were pleased with the collective endeavor orchestrated by Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield, and Green in Game 1, a contest where Kerr deployed twelve distinct players.

In Curry's absence, Butler is poised to dominate ball handling on the majority of possessions, mirroring his performance on Tuesday. The six-time All-Star, whose acquisition from Miami three months prior proved instrumental in galvanizing and fortifying the Warriors' offensive and defensive capabilities, registered 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in Game 1. He had previously eclipsed the 20-point mark in four of the five complete contests he participated in during the first-round series against Houston.

“Everyone is engaged and looking to make significant contributions when they enter the game,” stated Timberwolves guard Mike Conley. “Therefore, it’s essential to maintain a heightened state of focus on the game itself, your direct opponent, and their behavioral patterns. They are not solely reliant on a prominent player like Curry. Naturally, individuals such as Buddy and Jimmy will exhibit increased assertiveness, but the team possesses players capable of scoring, and they might collectively endeavour to achieve this as a cohesive unit.”