We found the Warriors’ thermal exhaust port!

Stephen Curry returned to action Friday after missing time with an ankle injury. By the end of the game, Curry had picked up a Grade 2 MCL sprain, leaving him out for the rest of the regular season and, according to Steve Kerr, through the first round of the playoffs.

While Golden State shouldn’t have much trouble in the first round, the timing couldn’t be worse. Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant are already injured, and while both are expected back in time for the playoffs, these absences are preventing the Warriors from hitting their stride. Despite the awesome record and status as the prohibitive favorite, they have not looked unbeatable yet this season. And now we won’t get to see them hit maximum capacity until no earlier than May.

What’s worse than the specific timeline for Curry is the fear he won’t be healthy again this season. He’s been dealing with ankle issues all year and now he has a knee problem. Is there any faith that once he returns for the Western semifinals he’ll be good to play 40 minutes without fail the rest of the way? Won’t everyone — Curry included — more likely be holding their breath, waiting for another grimace of pain?

Every championship requires a degree of luck. The Warriors’ 2015 title benefited from injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Their 2017 title benefited from the well-timed salary cap spike. If Curry isn’t well the rest of the way, whoever wins the title will benefit ... assuming it still isn’t the Warriors, which is just as likely as any other result.

The Wizards’ cupboards are bare. Come back, John Wall.

CLE 121, BKN 114
SAS 103, MIL 106
MIA 107, IND 113 (OT)
LAC 117, TOR 106
NYK 101, WAS 97
BOS 104, SAC 93
POR 108, OKC 105
ATL 99, HOU 118
UTA 110, GSW 91

Curry isn’t the only star point guard with injury problems: Kyrie Irving might not be back in time for the playoffs. Boston has been hit especially hard by the injury bug.

Explaining Rudy Gobert’s enormous value to Utah’s defense.

Lorde and Steven Adams are best friends. That and more joy in Whitney Medworth’s B-Sides.

Is there an NBA team more resilient than the Pelicans right now?

Nikola Vucevic is not covering himself in glory right now for the moribund Magic.

So Shaquille O’Neal had an EDM event starring a shirtless dancing Gronk.

In the first game in Sacramento since last week’s massive protest kept the arena mostly empty for Thursday’s game, the Kings and Celtics produced a joint PSA and wore T-shirts nodding to the Stephon Clark killing.

How Dr. Dunkenstein has become a mentor for Donovan Mitchell.

Loyola-Chicago is possibly the greatest Final Four Cinderella I’ve ever seen.

This story about Jordan Clarkson and Nick Young hijacking Julius Randle’s wedding says a lot about everyone involved.

Prayers up for Zeke Upshaw, who collapsed during a G League game this weekend.

Gregg Popovich on March For Our Lives.

And finally: Poke fun at Carmelo Anthony’s seeming inability to adjust to his new basketball reality all you want, but acknowledge that he is one of the best dudes in the NBA. He funded travel to March For Our Lives for 4,500 kids.

Be excellent to each other.