HOUSTON — When the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry crashed into Trevor Ariza’s shoulder, was upended and sent flying toward the court on Monday night against the Houston Rockets, it felt like forever before he landed.
“That was the worst (fall ever) because you’re in the air for a long time,” Curry said. “And not knowing how you’re going to hit the floor, knowing that it’s going to happen, it’s inevitable, but you’re up there just trying to brace yourself.”
The MVP was able to return to Game 4 of the Western Conference finals after the spill but the Warriors couldn’t overcome a big deficit, as James Harden scored 45 points in the Rockets’ 128-115 victory.
Curry said he went through the concussion protocol before returning.
“It was all minor stuff compared to how it looked,” Curry said. “But I’ll get some good rest (Monday night) and be ready to go … since it happened to now, nothing has gotten worse.”
The collision came when Curry jumped in the air as Ariza was about to go up for a shot midway through the second quarter. Ariza saw him and stopped abruptly, causing the spill. Curry’s head hit the court and it propelled him up and back onto the floor, where he remained for several minutes.
Curry looked dazed as he was attended to before slowly getting up and walking off the court.
“In the seconds afterward, it’s just a scary feeling, hearing all those voices saying: ‘Take your time,'” Curry said. “You just want to gather yourself, regroup and trust the process.”
Curry missed the remainder of the half with what the Warriors called a contusion, but after undergoing a series of tests he returned to the game midway through the third quarter.
Thumbnail photo via David J. Phillip/Associated Press
