Curry returns for Warriors, 'got stronger as the game went on'

LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors didn't need Stephen Curry to save them or stop an excessive amount of bleeding as he returned from the left leg injury that held him out for 11 games.

Instead, they just wanted him to join them in the momentum they've built over the last five games and hopefully help them take the next step in making the run they've been waiting for all season.

For much of their matinee game against the Los Angeles Lakers, it felt like a similar script as several of their recent games: fall behind early — by 20 on Sunday — then fight their way up and over the hump. But in Crypto.com Arena, they came up short, falling 113-105.

Curry's night mirrored that of his team. He went scoreless in the first quarter, before putting up eight in the second. The goal early on was just to allow him to see the ball go through the hoop, but he missed his first two wide-opened looks. He shot only 2-of-7 (1-of-5 from three) on uncontested shots.

The third didn't see him register a point, again, but then in the fourth, he erupted for 19 — the most he's scored in a fourth quarter this season.

«I felt like I got stronger as the game went on,» Curry said. He played 32 minutes, slightly over the 28 minutes the team was hoping to keep him around.

As much of a luxury as it would have been to simply add Curry — and Andre Iguodala — back into the mix and see their level of play skyrocket from there, Golden State understands that's not realistic.

There's still an adjustment period.

«The way the guys have been playing over the last five games and the stretch that we had at home, it's a tough transition for everybody,» Curry said. «Just guys trying to keep their rhythm, keep their confidence. That's our challenge as a team. We