It’s been three games since Stephen Curry last suited up for the Warriors, sidelined by a stubborn cold. Golden State, coming off consecutive losses to the Kings and Nuggets, was once again without its superstar for tonight’s matchup against the Pacers. Despite the rough stretch and Curry’s ongoing absence, head coach Steve Kerr remained hopeful, keeping spirits high and looking forward to the moment when Curry could finally return to the court and lift the team back into form.

ESPN’s Anthony Slater shared head coach Steve Kerr’s update verbatim: “We’re expecting Steph (Curry) to be back Tuesday.” Despite Curry’s absence, the Warriors dominated the Pacers, cruising to a 114-83 victory as they prepared to open their six-game road trip against the Thunder.

Stephen Curry’s absence might have been the talk of the town, but it didn’t come out of nowhere. The superstar had been battling illness and fatigue for over a week, and it was starting to show on the court. Even when he tried to push through, like in those games against Milwaukee, Indiana, and Phoenix, the signs were clear.

He dropped 27 in Milwaukee, sure, but with sluggish shooting. Then came 24 points against the Pacers, along with 10 turnovers. By the time the Suns game rolled around, Curry looked drained, managing just six points in the final quarter and missing a key free throw that could’ve changed the momentum.

After that, Curry didn’t shy away from owning up. “There are parts of the game where we just, I made it too hard on all of us with not getting organized, you know, bad possessions, a little lack of energy, and you give a team like that life,” he admitted. It was classic Steph, taking the blame, even when everyone could see he wasn’t himself.

Head coach Steve Kerr saw it too and decided enough was enough. Before the Kings matchup last week, Kerr shut down any talk of Curry suiting up. “He’s wiped out right now, so I don’t care what the doctors say, we gotta get him some rest,” Kerr said. “I’ll make the decision right now — he’s not going to play tomorrow. He needs to rest. He’s been sick, and all the travel has just caught up to him.”

By the time the Pacers game rolled around, Kerr made it clear they were erring on the side of caution. “Feeling better, but he hasn’t done much of anything, so we didn’t want to throw him out there tonight,” Kerr explained. Turns out, Curry could’ve played if they’d really pushed it but the Warriors chose the long game. The expectation now? The Chef should finally be back cooking when the team heads to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night.

But the Warriors have been doing their best to keep the fort down until he returns.

Warriors erupt late to crush Pacers and snap losing streak

The Golden State Warriors finally shook off a slow start and snapped their two-game losing streak with a 114-83 thrashing of the Indiana Pacers at Chase Center on Sunday night. It wasn’t exactly a dominant display for three quarters; the first three periods were a messy mix of missed shots and awkward possessions, but the Warriors’ patience paid off in a jaw-dropping fourth-quarter surge.

With the game tied at 65 late in the third, Golden State went on a 14-0 run, flipping the scoreboard and finally putting the Pacers in their place. Moses Moody sparked the charge with a wild four-point play just before the third-quarter buzzer, and Will Richard added 11 of his 15 points in the fourth, slicing through defenders with step-back jumpers and layups off passes from Jimmy Butler III.

Jimmy, of course, led the charge all night, racking up 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, doing most of his damage around the rim and proving that sometimes, simple basketball is the deadliest.

Quinten Post got an early jump, hitting a pair of catch-and-shoot threes to give the Warriors a small lead, while Al Horford found his rhythm after a rough start to the month, knocking down four of his five three-point attempts and adding 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks in 18 minutes.

Even with Stephen Curry out for the third straight game due to a stubborn illness, Golden State’s depth shined, with six players scoring in double figures and the bench stepping up to support Butler’s heroics. By the fourth, the Warriors had outscored the Pacers 39-18, turning a tense, slow-building game into a decisive blowout that sent the Chase Center fans home buzzing.