Curry's Heroics Nearly Spark Warriors Comeback in Return

Golden State falls short against Rockets despite Curry's 29-point performance off the bench.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:10am by Ben Kaplan

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Steph Curry made a triumphant return to the court for the Golden State Warriors, nearly leading a shocking comeback against the Houston Rockets. Curry scored 29 points in 26 minutes off the bench, but the Warriors' supporting cast couldn't overcome a double-digit second-half deficit, falling 117-116 despite Curry's late heroics.

Why it matters

Curry's return was a major boost for the Warriors, who had struggled without their superstar point guard over the past two months. The narrow loss showed that Golden State is still a formidable team when Curry is healthy and on the floor, raising hopes for a potential playoff push despite their current position as the 10th seed in the Western Conference.

The details

The Warriors trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half before Curry caught fire late, scoring 8 of his team-high 29 points in the final minutes to nearly complete the comeback. Curry hit a driving layup to cut the Rockets' lead to 112-111 with 1:27 left, then drained a 32-foot three-pointer to tie the game at 114-114. However, his final shot attempt to win the game in the closing seconds fell short.

  • Curry scored 8 of his 29 points in the final 4:51 of the game.
  • The Warriors trailed by double digits with as little as 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The players

Steph Curry

The star point guard for the Golden State Warriors, making his return after missing over two months due to injury.

Kevin Durant

The star forward for the Houston Rockets, who scored a game-high 31 points in the win.

Kristaps Porzingis

The Warriors' second-best player, who fouled out with more than 10 minutes left in the game, limiting his time on the floor alongside Curry.

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What’s next

With four games left on the Warriors' schedule, all that's left to be determined is how much Curry will play leading into their No. 9/10 play-in matchup. Golden State hosts the Kings on Tuesday before LeBron James and the Lakers pay a visit Thursday for its final home contest of the regular season.

The takeaway

Curry's return provided a much-needed spark for the Warriors, who showed they can still be a formidable team when their superstar is healthy. Despite the narrow loss, the performance raised hopes for a potential playoff push, as the Warriors look to build chemistry and momentum heading into the postseason.