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SACRAMENTO -- The Warriors lost their exhibition season finale 95-91 to the host Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. But the defeat was overshadowed by another loss: point guard Stephen Curry.
Late in the first half, Curry sprained his right ankle -- the same ankle that bothered him all last season -- and had to be helped to the locker room. He never returned and left Power Balance Pavilion on crutches, his face hiding behind the shadow of his hood. He will be evaluated by Warriors doctors Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury and whether he'll play in Sunday's season opener against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
"Disappointed," coach Mark Jackson said. "But the bottom line is we're a no-excuse basketball team. ... Hopefully, he's back quick. But if not, we still have to go out and execute our game plan and fulfill the promise."
Curry had seven points, five assists, three steals and no turnovers in 15 minutes before getting hurt. With 46.4 seconds left in the second quarter, Curry, backpedaling to the defensive end, appeared to roll his right ankle. After trying to walk it off, he buckled to the hardwood and writhed in pain on the sideline between the team's benches.
Curry sprained his right ankle three times last season, the first in an exhibition game, and missed a total of eight games. Curry had surgery in May -- performed by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte -- to repair two ligaments
"Tough loving Steph," forward David Lee said after totaling 30 points and 13 rebounds against the Kings.
Second-year guard Ish Smith replaced Curry in the second-half lineup. Jackson said he gave Smith the nod over rookie Charles Jenkins so he could get a look at Smith, whom the Warriors claimed off waivers Friday.
Smith played just over 18 minutes, scoring two points on six shots with three assists. Down the stretch, guard Monta Ellis, who had 19 points and six assists, ran the point for the Warriors.
Though Jenkins was penciled in as the backup point guard, Jackson said he has multiple options at point guard that his staff will weigh over the next few days if Curry is out.
"We've got to look at it like it's an opportunity for the next man," Jackson said. "Ish Smith is a guy that was put on waivers (last Wednesday by Memphis). He's got to look at it like, 'What a blessing.' "
"I hadn't airballed like that in awhile," said Thompson, who finished with seven points on 2-for-15 shooting. "It felt good and everything, too. I thought it was in."
After two free throws by Marcus Thornton, Golden State had the ball down 94-91 with 16.4 seconds left. Guess whom Jackson went to for the game-tying 3-pointer? Yup, Thompson.
But the rookie started the play by going to the wrong spot. Then, he pump-faked himself out of a good look from 3, only to settle for a step-back 3-pointer that clanked.
"Klay made a mistake," Jackson said. "But we got a good look out of it, and we learned from it."
Thompson went 6 for 25 shooting with 16 points in two exhibition games. He has missed all eight of his 3-point attempts.
Thompson said he's going to spend the next few days in the gym and vowed it won't happen again.
"I'm not going to lose confidence. That's the worst thing you can do as a shooter," Thompson said. "That was tough. It's going to linger around for a couple days. ... I'm just happy Coach Jax has that confidence in me to call the play for me like that. I just feel bad for my teammates that I had a performance like that."
