The Golden State Warriors clawed their way into the postseason with a chaotic, gutsy win over Memphis—a game that tested every inch of their identity. Now, with Game 2 of their series against the Houston Rockets set for tonight, the stakes get sharper. This isn’t just a matter of continuing momentum. It’s about protecting a dynasty that still believes it has more to prove.

What’s fueling the buzz? Not a headline-worthy absence. Not some controversial ejection. Just a hand—Steph Curry’s hand—wrapped in ice as he left the Game 1 post-game podium. Will this be an issue for game 2?

Warriors Injury Report: All Eyes on Steph, Even Without a Listing

Officially, Golden State is injury-free. That includes Curry. No listing. No restrictions. But the image of him with that iced shooting hand lingers. The injury report doesn’t list it, but that doesn’t mean the fanbase isn’t nervous. When your offensive engine is built on rhythm, feel, and a flick of the wrist—any tweak matters.

Curry was magnificent in the opener: 31 points, ice in his veins (and apparently on his hand). But Houston is going to pressure him differently now. Expect blitzes. Expect traps. And expect the Rockets to test that hand with every bump, every closeout.

The good news? Golden State is as healthy and locked-in as they’ve been all season. Butler is peaking at just the right time, and Quinten Post’s emergence as a legitimate floor spacer has made them even more unpredictable. The bench? Lean, but lethal.

Houston, by contrast, is already shorthanded. Jae’Sean Tate (ankle impingement) and Jock Landale (knee) are both out. It’s not a devastating blow, but it’s one that limits their defensive versatility—especially on switches involving Butler or Curry.

Golden State Has the Formula—Now It’s About Doubling Down

Game 1 wasn’t close because Houston failed. It was a blowout because Golden State dictated every possession like they wrote the script.

The Warriors didn’t just defend—they suffocated. They didn’t just execute—they punished. And while the Rockets scrambled through defensive sets and collapsed under late-clock pressure, Golden State kept their foot on the gas. They knew Houston lacked playoff muscle memory. So they attacked every blind spot.

Draymond Green turned Şengün into a decision-maker instead of a scorer. Payton and Moody face-guarded Green and VanVleet into inefficient chaos. And when Curry wasn’t draining daggers, Jimmy Butler was dissecting matchups with surgical poise.

But there’s one X-factor the Warriors can’t ignore heading into Game 2: Steph Curry’s hand. It didn’t look like a problem in Game 1—but what if it becomes one? What if the soreness lingers? What if Houston turns every trap, every screen, into a test of pain tolerance?

Golden State can’t afford to wait and see. They need to lighten the burden. Here’s what Steve Kerr is likely going to do:

• Keep Curry in motion. Houston can’t trap what it can’t catch. Run him off pin-downs, flares, ghost screens—force miscommunications.
• Let Butler take over early. If Steph’s rhythm is off or if Houston clamps down on him, Jimmy can set the tone and draw fouls.
• Trust Post’s gravity. His shooting warped Houston’s weak side. Use that to open backdoor lanes and drive-and-kick options.
• Attack Houston’s rotations. Their zone coverage was full of panic. Hit the nail, kick to the corners, and punish every late closeout.

This isn’t the time to get cute. Houston will make adjustments, sure—but they can’t manufacture playoff seasoning overnight. Expect them to play through Şengün more, try to muck up Curry’s rhythm, and dare someone else to beat them.

Let Butler beat them. Let Draymond quarterback from the top. Let Payton and Post run wild in transition. Golden State doesn’t need to match desperation. They need to match details. Win the small things. Win the rotations. Win the timing.

Because if they do? They’re not just taking a 2-0 lead.

They’re breaking Houston’s spirit before it even packs for San Francisco.