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Stephen Curry says he knows patience will be required when dealing with hamstring injury

Stephen Curry says he knows patience will be required when dealing with hamstring injury
Curry is going to be a postseason spectator for at least a few games, his Grade 1 hamstring strain bad enough that it took him out of most of Game 1 of the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday. (Imagn Images)
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Updated 09 May 2025

Stephen Curry says he knows patience will be required when dealing with hamstring injury

Stephen Curry says he knows patience will be required when dealing with hamstring injury
  • Stephen Curry sat down after the Golden State Warriors went through their gameday shootaround practice in Minneapolis and quickly announced that he’s feeling great
  • Curry is going to be a postseason spectator for at least a few games, his Grade 1 hamstring strain bad enough that it took him out of most of Game 1 of the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinal

Stephen Curry sat down after the Golden State Warriors went through their shootaround practice in Minneapolis on Thursday, quickly announcing that he’s feeling great.
He was not telling the truth.
“Sarcasm,” the four-time NBA champion with the Warriors quickly clarified, just in case anyone missed the joke.
Curry is going to be a postseason spectator for at least a few games, his Grade 1 hamstring strain bad enough that it forced him out in the second quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series at Minnesota on Tuesday night. He missed the lopsided Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves on Thursday night that evened the series and will likely be sidelined for at least Games 3 and 4 in San Francisco, too.
Curry — who is with the team but isn’t allowed to do anything basketball-related yet, even stationary shooting — isn’t exactly sure how or why the injury happened. He’s never had any hamstring issue of significance before.
“It’s hard to really predict this stuff is what I’m learning,” Curry said. “There were no, like, warning signs or any weird feelings. I felt great the whole game up until that point. And then I made a little pivot move on defense and felt something.”
Curry thought he would be able to return to Game 1, then quickly realized that wasn’t the case. Playing with the strain could have made the issue far worse, Curry said. Hamstrings, he’s quickly learning, need time no matter what sort of rehabilitation program he partakes in.
“Obviously, a tough break,” Curry said. “Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.”
Curry scored 13 points in 13 minutes of Game 1 before his exit, and Golden State went on to a 99-88 win. Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green combined for 62 points for the Warriors, who held Minnesota to a 5-for-29 clunker on 3-point tries and limited the Timberwolves to 60 points through three quarters.
“We have a lot of confidence that we can still win the series and guys will step up no matter how it looks,” Curry said. “And it’s obviously a situation where you want to think positively and optimistically that we can win games and buy me some time to get back and hopefully have another series after this and be able to be in a position where I can get back out there safely, where I’m not putting too much risk on the body if it’s not ready.”
Curry, who is averaging a team-best 22 points in these playoffs, can still contribute in small ways even if he’s not playing.
“The guys obviously revere Steph, and they love his presence and that’ll matter to us tonight during the game,” coach Steve Kerr said in his pregame interview. “I’m sure he’ll be talking to the guys on the sidelines and giving some thoughts. He may come into our huddle and make a suggestion, which I always welcome, so it’s good to have him here for sure.”
At one point, when Green picked up his fifth technical foul of the playoffs, two short of an automatic one-game suspension, Curry was concerned enough about his pal getting ejected for a second technical that he went over to the scorer’s table to try to talk Green down and walk him back to the bench.
But not having Curry on the court clearly hurt.
“Everybody knows it’s difficult to recreate or even get close to doing what he does, but we’re going to have to find a way,” Butler said. “So we’ll go to the tapes, talk about it and execute it to the best of our abilities.”


Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver
Updated 54 min 32 sec ago

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver
  • The victory meant that 15-time champion Madrid became the first team in competition history — since the rebranding in the early 1990s — to reach 200 wins
  • An early own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gave Tottenham a 1-0 win over visiting Villarreal
  • Borussia Dortmund and Juventus drew 4-4 in Turin

LONDON: Kylian Mbappe converted two penalties and 10-man Real Madrid came back to beat visiting Marseille 2-1 on Tuesday on the opening night of the Champions League.

The victory meant that 15-time champion Madrid became the first team in competition history — since the rebranding in the early 1990s — to reach 200 wins.

And it gave former Madrid playing standout Xabi Alonso a victory in his Champions League debut as the club’s coach.

Timothy Weah put visiting Marseille ahead early on but Mbappe struck back from the penalty spot in the 29th and 81st.

The first penalty came after a foul on Rodrygo and the second for a handball by a defender.

Mbappe now has 50 goals in 64 matches with Madrid.

“We are happy that he keeps scoring goals and has been feeling more and more comfortable,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said of the France star. “Our job is to make sure the ball gets to him and that he can have even more scoring opportunities than he is having now.”

Madrid captain Dani Carvajal was sent off in the 72nd for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

Weah — a US international and the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah — was set up by Mason Greenwood, who stripped Madrid’s Arda Guler near midfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut for Madrid lasted only five minutes. The England defender was replaced by Carvajal because of an apparent muscle injury.

Spanish police clashed with Marseille fans before the match but the situation was controlled quickly.

An early own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gave Tottenham a 1-0 win over visiting Villarreal.

Borussia Dortmund and Juventus drew 4-4 in Turin. Juventus substitute Dusan Vlahovic scored one goal in stoppage time and then set up the equalizer for English defender Lloyd Kelly.

Qarabag came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Benfica.

In the second season of the new league-phase format, the top eight teams advance to the round of 16. The next 16 teams enter a two-leg playoff, with eight advancing.

Arsenal subs decisive

Viktor Gyokeres was off target in his Champions League debut for Arsenal.

The London club’s substitutes were decisive, though, in a 2-0 win for the Gunners at Athletic Bilbao.

Gabriel Martinelli scored less than a minute after he came on and Leandro Trossard — who had replaced Gyokeres — doubled the lead 15 minutes later.

Gyokeres — Arsenal’s prized signing who scored six Champions League goals for Sporting Lisbon last season — missed a golden chance shortly after the break. The Sweden international evaded his marker with ease and rose to meet a well-placed free kick from Declan Rice but his header went well wide of the target.

Martinelli and Trossard also provided the assists on each other’s goals.

Union’s memorable debut

Competition newcomer Union Saint-Gilloise made a memorable debut, as the Belgian club won 3-1 across the border at PSV Eindhoven.

The first goal of this season’s competition was a penalty kick converted by Canada international Promise David.

The penalty was awarded when United States international Ricardo Pepi harshly landed his boot into the leg of Union’s English center back Christian Burgess.

Goalkeeper Matej Kovar then went the wrong way on the spot kick in the ninth minute.

Another error by Pepi led to Union’s second before the break, a dribbling exhibition and expert finish by Anouar Ait El Hadj.

Union, which qualified by winning the Belgian league for the first time in 90 years, is one of four clubs making their competition debuts this season. The others are Bodø/Glimt (from Norway), Kairat (Kazakhstan) and Pafos (Cyprus).

Argentine defender Kevin Mac Allister, who is named for Macaulay Culkin’s character in “Home Alone,” made it 3-0 from close range in the 81st.

Ruben van Bommel — the son of former Netherlands standout Mark van Bommel — scored for PSV in the 90th.

PSV had gone unbeaten in its previous 11 group or league matches in UEFA competition.


Hernandez strike sees Al-Hilal complete comeback win over Al-Duhail

Hernandez strike sees Al-Hilal complete comeback win over Al-Duhail
Updated 17 September 2025

Hernandez strike sees Al-Hilal complete comeback win over Al-Duhail

Hernandez strike sees Al-Hilal complete comeback win over Al-Duhail
  • Goals from summer signings earn victory

Al-Hilal came from behind to defeat Qatar’s Al-Duhail 2-1 in their opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Tuesday. Second-half strikes from summer signings Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez won the clash for the Riyadh club.

The match burst into life 10 minutes before the break as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic let fly from outside the area for Al-Duhail’s Salah Zakaria to tip around the post.

However, from the resultant corner, Senegalese defender Youssouf Sabaly won the ball before lifting a long ball over the home defence for Adil Boulbina to outpace the backline, run into the area past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and slide home to complete a devastating counterattack.

It spurred the hosts into action and they thought they were back on level terms on the stroke of half-time. The Qatari team failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Yusuf Akcicek just outside the area. The Turkish teenager fired a low shot into the bottom corner but the strike was ruled out by VAR after a Marcos Leonardo handball was spotted in the build-up.

After the break Al-Hilal continued to push forward but the ball would just not fall for the Blues in the area. However, just before the hour, a well-worked attack saw the four-times continental champions move the ball quickly in the final third. Milinkovic-Savic found Hamad Al-Yami on the right who pulled his pass back for fellow substitute Nunez to sidefoot home from just outside the six-yard box.

The Ƶn side were far from satisfied and went in search of a second, albeit by leaving gaps at the back.

But the ploy paid off when Hernandez’s shot from outside the area took a deflection to give Zakaria no chance and the home team the start they wanted in the competition.


Bangladesh stays alive in Asia Cup with thrilling win over Afghanistan

Bangladesh stays alive in Asia Cup with thrilling win over Afghanistan
Updated 16 September 2025

Bangladesh stays alive in Asia Cup with thrilling win over Afghanistan

Bangladesh stays alive in Asia Cup with thrilling win over Afghanistan
  • Afghanistan now needs to beat Group B leader Sri Lanka in its last group game as three teams are still in contention to get the final two spots for the next round
  • Bangladesh’s ploy to field Nasum in place of Mahedi Hasan worked out perfectly

ABU DHABI: Bangladesh notched a thrilling eight-run victory over Afghanistan in a must-win game and stayed alive for the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup on Tuesday.
Afghanistan now needs to beat Group B leader Sri Lanka in its last group game as three teams are still in contention to get the final two spots for the next round.
Bangladesh spinners Nasum Ahmed (2-11) and Rishad Hossain (2-18) stifled Afghanistan’s top-order batters before left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman (3-28) knocked out the tailenders in the death overs to bowl out the opposition for 146 off the final ball.
Earlier, Afghanistan slow bowlers also squeezed Bangladesh in the middle-overs with Noor Ahmad and captain Rashid Khan sharing four wickets for 49 runs and restricted them to 154-5.
Bangladesh brilliant with the ball
Bangladesh’s ploy to field Nasum in place of Mahedi Hasan worked out perfectly as the left-arm spinner trapped Sediqullah Atal leg before wicket off the very first ball with the new ball and went on to bowl a wicket maiden over.
Nasum’s three overs in the powerplay pinned down Afghanistan to 27-2 as he also accounted for the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran, who struggled for 12 deliveries and could score only 5.
Top-scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35) held one end up, but Rishad’s two quick wickets saw Afghanistan slipping to 62-4 by the halfway stage as Gurbaz swept straight to backward square where Jaker Ali took a well-judged catch.
Afghanistan had lost half of its side for 77 runs in 13 overs when Mohammad Nabi (15) played Mustafizur back onto his stumps. With the run-rate climbing to over 11-an-over Azmatullah Omarzai took 20 run in one over of off-spinner Saif Hasan (0-39).
Azmatullah holed out to Saif after scoring a rapid 30 off 15 balls and Rashid briefly challenged Bangladesh with a quickfire 20 off 11 balls before Mustafizur had him caught at short third in the penultimate over.
With 22 needed off the final over, Noor smashed two straight sixes to Taskin Ahmed (2-34) but holed out at mid-off of the final ball.
Tanzid stars with half-century
Tanzid Hasan’s brisk 52 off 31 balls formed the cornerstone of Bangladesh innings.
Saif and Tanzid gave Bangladesh a strong start of 63 runs off 40 balls. Bangladesh was set for a strong finish when it reached 87-1 in 10 overs, but the middle overs of Noor and Ahmad pulled them back.
Saif fell soon after the powerplay when he missed a sweep against Rashid and was clean bowled while Tanzid holed out to Ibrahim at long-off in the 13th over as Afghanistan went on to concede only 30 runs in the death overs.


FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup

FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup
Updated 16 September 2025

FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup

FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup
  • The initiative marks an increase of close to 70 percent from the $209 million paid out after the 2022 tournament in Qatar

MANCHESTER, England: FIFA is set to distribute a record $355 million to clubs around the world as part of an expanded Club Benefits Program tied to the 2026 World Cup, football’s world governing body announced on Tuesday.

The initiative marks an increase of close to 70 percent from the $209 million paid out after the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

For the first time, clubs that release players for World Cup qualifiers — not just the finals —  will be compensated.

The initiative is part of a renewed memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the European Club Association signed in March 2023, aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable system for global club football.

“The enhanced edition of the FIFA Club Benefits Program for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is going a step further by recognizing financially the huge contribution that so many clubs and their players around the world make to the staging of both the qualifiers and the final tournament,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

The CBP was first introduced for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2022, 440 clubs from 51 FIFA member associations received payments under the program.

With the 2026 edition set to include compensation for qualifiers, the number of benefiting clubs is expected to rise significantly.

ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi called the program “innovative.”

“Clubs play a pivotal role in the success of national team football,” he said. “This initiative recognizes every element of it, from early development through to release for the most important games.”

The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada.


Subs Martinelli and Trossard earn Arsenal 2-0 win at Bilbao

Subs Martinelli and Trossard earn Arsenal 2-0 win at Bilbao
Updated 16 September 2025

Subs Martinelli and Trossard earn Arsenal 2-0 win at Bilbao

Subs Martinelli and Trossard earn Arsenal 2-0 win at Bilbao
  • Martinelli replaced Eberechi Eze in the 71st minute, with Arsenal struggling to find a breakthrough despite creating plenty of chances
  • The Brazilian forward was sent racing through on goal after a flicked pass from Trossard

BILBAO, Spain: Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, with Gabriel Martinelli making an immediate impact from the bench to open the scoring and another substitute, Leandro Trossard, netting the second.
Mikel Arteta’s side, beaten at the semifinal stage last season by eventual winners Paris St. Germain, were the better team on the night, but labored to put away Athletic who were backed by a boisterous San Mames stadium, until the substitutes arrived.
Martinelli replaced Eberechi Eze in the 71st minute, with Arsenal struggling to find a breakthrough despite creating plenty of chances, and the substitute netted an impressive solo goal after less than a minute on the pitch.
The Brazilian forward was sent racing through on goal after a flicked pass from Trossard, and the two combined again three minutes from time, with Martinelli’s pullback from the byline finished off by Trossard.
The game took a while to get going before Arsenal ventured forward and began to create chances. Athletic defender Andoni Gorosabel made a crucial clearance with Eze about to pull the trigger from close range after a Noni Madueke pass.
Viktor Gyokeres had a couple of opportunities — a strike which never troubled Athletic keeper Unai Simon and a diving header which went wide, with Arsenal looking to the Swedish striker’s movement and strength to break through Athletic’s backline.
Arsenal began to turn the screw and increase the pressure in the early stages of the second half, while Athletic always posed a threat on the counter but the game was failing to match the frenzied atmosphere in the stands.
Mikel Arteta sent Trossard on for Gyokeres, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Martinelli that Arsenal really got going.
Trossard’s ball from inside his own half sent Martinelli through and, after controlling it neatly, he drove forward into the area and kept his nerve to send a low shot past Simon.
Martinelli then turned provider, going past his marker before finding Trossard, who had time to take a touch before getting a shot away, which took a deflection on its way past the keeper.
Arsenal began last season’s campaign with a 0-0 draw at Atalanta, and they almost had to settle for a similar result, but Arteta turned to his bench to defeat an Athletic side making their first Champions League appearance since 2014.
Arsenal host Olympiakos in their next Champions League game on October 1 with Athletic away to Borussia Dortmund on the same day.