Stephen Curry Scores 29 in Return from Knee Injury, But Warriors Fall to Rockets

Curry came off the bench for the first time since 2011-12 season, played alongside brother Seth for the first time.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:42am by Ben Kaplan

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Stephen Curry made his return from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, scoring 29 points off the bench for the Golden State Warriors. However, the Warriors fell to the Houston Rockets 117-116 on a last-second layup by Alperen Sengun. Curry played 26 minutes and hit 5 three-pointers, but his potential game-winning shot at the buzzer was off the mark.

Why it matters

Curry's return is a major boost for the Warriors as they look to secure a playoff spot in the final stretch of the regular season. While the loss was disappointing, Curry's performance shows he is back to full strength after the extended absence due to his knee injury.

The details

Curry entered the game in the first quarter and immediately made an impact, finding Charles Bassey for a dunk and then draining a deep three-pointer. He scored 10 points in the first half to keep the Warriors close. In the third quarter, Curry scored 11 points and sparked an 11-0 run to get the Warriors back in the game. He hit a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to cut the Rockets' lead to one, but Sengun's layup in the final seconds gave Houston the win.

  • Curry missed 27 games due to the knee injury he first sustained in January.
  • This was Curry's first regular season game coming off the bench since the 2011-12 season.
  • It was also the first time Curry shared the court with his brother Seth while on the same team.

The players

Stephen Curry

A 38-year-old point guard for the Golden State Warriors who is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He was returning from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury.

Alperen Sengun

A 20-year-old center for the Houston Rockets who hit the game-winning layup in the final seconds to give the Rockets the victory over the Warriors.

Seth Curry

Stephen Curry's younger brother, who also plays in the NBA. This was the first time the two brothers played on the same team.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who said the team's goal was to allow Curry to ramp up to full strength for the play-in tournament.

Charles Bassey

A center for the Golden State Warriors who received an assist from Stephen Curry on an early dunk.

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What they’re saying

“It was more of a mental thing at first, meaning I didn't know enough about it. I thought I was going to be out a week. Ten days max, let it calm down.”

— Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Player

“The patience then was tough just because it's one of those injuries you really have to let rest. There's nothing you can push through or be on the court while it's healing. It's just a different experience than most injuries that I've had, that had a very defined timeline and a very defined process.”

— Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Player

What’s next

The Warriors have just four games left in the regular season, starting with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. The team's goal is to have Curry fully ramped up for the play-in tournament.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, Curry's strong performance in his return from injury is an encouraging sign for the Warriors as they look to secure a playoff spot. His ability to quickly regain his scoring touch shows he is back to full strength, which will be crucial for Golden State's postseason push.