The Golden State Warriors found life at the right time, rallying past the Los Angeles Clippers for a 126-121 win in a win-or-go-home play-in battle. Stephen Curry powered the comeback with 35 points, delivering a performance that kept the season alive.
But the conversation quickly shifted away from the box score.
A few hours after the game, a video spread across social media showing Curry rolling his ankle during a celebration after a late three-pointer. The clip looked painful. The angle of his foot sparked immediate concern, especially considering how much time he already missed this season.
Instead of a setback, Curry avoided disaster. The combination of ankle braces and the Kobe Protro sneakers he wore appeared to provide enough support to prevent a serious injury, per LakersNation.
@nicekicks Thank the basketball gods for Kobe Protros 🙏😭 🎥: bellikemike/IG #stephencurry #nikekobe #kobebryant #sneakers #warriors
Early Exit Raises Immediate Concern
The viral moment only added to a night that already carried tension.
Curry left the game late in the first quarter and walked straight to the locker room with a towel draped over his head. The sequence raised questions right away, with no immediate update available during the broadcast.
Despite the uncertainty, there were encouraging signs. Curry walked under his own power and did not show visible discomfort as he exited. Sideline reporter Allie Clifton later shared that he looked relaxed in the tunnel and reassured her that he felt physically fine.
That mattered for a Warriors team that has dealt with injuries throughout the season. Curry himself missed a large stretch earlier in the year due to lingering knee pain, limiting him to 43 games. Any new issue, especially in an elimination setting, would have changed the outlook entirely.
He returned to the bench before the second quarter, though he did not check back in right away. Golden State trailed 31-22 at the end of the opening frame, putting even more pressure on a group already fighting to extend its season.
Kobe Sneakers Become Part of the Story
Once Curry settled in, he took over.
He shot 12-for-23 from the field and knocked down seven three-pointers, leading a comeback that flipped the game, CFN reports. Golden State erased an early deficit, including a 12-2 hole, and used a 9-2 run in the second quarter to close the gap. Curry’s scoring burst and control late sealed the win.
His footwear added another layer to the night.
Curry laced up a pair of Kobe 4 Protro sneakers, part of a rotation he has used throughout the season while operating as a sneaker free agent. After ending his long-standing partnership with Under Armour, he has tested different brands, including several models from Kobe Bryant’s signature line with Nike.
That choice drew attention again after the viral clip surfaced.
Fans pointed to the structure of the Kobe Protros and Curry’s ankle support as key factors in avoiding a more serious outcome. Some reactions leaned into the moment emotionally, tying the shoes back to Bryant’s legacy, while others focused on the practical side, noting how close the play came to turning into a major injury.
Either way, the result stayed the same. Curry remained on the floor when it mattered and finished the job.
Golden State now moves forward to face the Phoenix Suns with a playoff spot on the line. Curry’s health will remain under the spotlight, but the Warriors avoided the outcome they could not afford.
For one night, a scary moment turned into a reminder of how quickly things can shift, and how close a season can come to changing in an instant.
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