TL;DR
- Stephen Curry sustained a right quadriceps contusion during the Warriors' loss to the Rockets.
- Curry is scheduled for an MRI to assess the severity of his injury.
- Brandon Podziemski is a potential substitute for Stephen Curry if he is sidelined.
- Podziemski has shown reliability as a reserve and is an effective long-range shooter.
Golden State Warriors fans are holding their breath after the franchise’s go-to scorer, Stephen Curry, prepares to undergo an MRI.
As reported by ClutchPoints ' Kenzo Fukuda, Curry sustained a contusion to his right quadriceps late in the Warriors' 104-100 loss on Thursday evening to the Houston Rockets, an ailment that led the four-time NBA champion to exit the game early.
Although it would be less than optimal for Curry to be sidelined for several contests in the Bay Area, the Warriors possess a clear substitute for the future Hall of Famer should he be unavailable for a short or prolonged duration.
Brandon Podziemski, currently in the final stages of his third year with The Warriors, ought to be ready to step into Curry's position within Golden State's roster.
The Santa Clara player has been a starter in eight matches for The Dubs during the 2025-26 season and has performed reliably as a reserve recently, achieving double-digit points in three of his past four appearances.
However, it's important to mention that Podziemski struggles with making sound decisions when dribbling and frequently has difficulty staying in front of opposing players.
Nevertheless, considering Podziemski ranks among the Dubs' most effective long-range shooters (he excels at catch-and-shoot plays), it's unreasonable to assert that Golden State would drastically decline should he need to step in for Curry shortly.
In essence, while Podziemski is more appropriate for a less taxing offensive position where he'd be a significant contributor, the 22-year-old possesses the ability to assist the Warriors in maintaining their performance should Curry be sidelined for multiple contests.
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