Steph Curry cried after being ruled out of playoff game with knee injury, will miss 2 weeks with MCL sprain

The best record in NBA history, somehow bettering last season's MVP campaign, transcending sports to become an American celebrity at large, cruising toward a second straight NBA title -- could this undo it all? 

Golden State Warriors fans held their collective breath Monday after superstar Steph Curry tweaked his right knee while slipping on a wet spot in a playoff game Sunday. The injury jeopardizes Golden State's hopes for back-to-back titles -- and revealed a raw, human side to the superstar who for two years now has not appeared bound by the same laws that govern mortal men. 

Curry slipped on a wet spot on the court seconds before halftime in Golden State's win Sunday, which put the Warriors up three games to one over Houston in their first round playoff series. He tried to play in the second half, but was too injured. 

Fans saw Curry attempt to take the court for the second half, then jog back to the locker room with his head down. What they didn't see -- what only came to light after the game was over -- was Curry moved to tears on the bench after learning he wouldn't be able to take the court for the second half. 

"He was shook up; he was crying," Warriors forward Draymond Green told USA Today. "It’s pain. It’s wanting to be out there with your guys. He was quiet, so I said everything to him."

Here's more, from Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group.

Curry had just been told he could not go back in the game. Every bone in his body wanted to play but his ligaments overruled them. His ailing right knee wasn’t going to allow him to play. His crushed spirit wasn’t going to wait for the privacy of the locker room.

“Get out of here,” Green told Curry. “Don’t let them see you like this. Don’t let them see you cry. We will hold you down. We got this. We will win this for you.”

Curry is expected to undergo an MRI Monday to determine the severity of his knee injury, which was initially ruled a sprain, and how long it might keep him out. 

With Curry -- who's all but guaranteed to win his second consecutive MVP award this season -- the Warriors are heavy favorites to win the NBA title for a second straight season. Without him? They still have a chance, but not a great one. 

If Monday's MRI results bear bad news, Curry's Sunday tears will get plenty of company from Warriors fans far and wide. 

UPDATE, April 25, 3:30 p.m. EST: The Warriors announced Monday afternoon that Curry's MRI revealed a standard Grade 1 MCL sprain that's expected to keep him out about two weeks.  

Two more weeks would have Curry returning to the court somewhere around the middle of the playoffs' second round.

The upshot: Golden State's road to going back-to-back isn't completely blocked -- but it just got a lot more complicated, that's for sure. 

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