Stephen Curry returned from a 27‑game layoff to score 29 points in 26 minutes, sparking a late rally that fell just short. The Warriors trailed by 10 in the final five minutes before Curry hit a clutch 30‑footer that missed at the buzzer, sealing a 117‑116 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Curry began sluggishly, even committing a travel on his first shot, but found rhythm after Coach Steve Kerr extended his minutes. He poured 11 points in the final 7:58 of the third quarter and added another 11 in the fourth, pushing his total to 29 while clocking 26 minutes today.

The loss keeps the Warriors at 36‑42, a sub‑.500 record that will likely seal them as the 10th seed. With only four games left, the team must rely on Curry’s health and veteran Al Horford’s return from a calf strain to keep playoff hopes alive for the season ahead.

Curry admitted his knee, dubbed a “runner’s knee,” is his new normal, yet he insists there are no structural issues. Coach Kerr praised the player’s resilience, noting that Curry’s rhythm fuels the entire squad. The Warriors now face a do‑or‑die play‑in game against the Clippers or Blazers in the season.