Ankle issue leads Curry to depart Warriors' rout of Rockets early

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors did all they really needed to in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets in the first half Saturday, and it's probably just as well.

Curry was bothered by his right ankle, leaving the game just before halftime, then returning for only 2:48 of the third quarter - a period in which he appeared to be moving gingerly.

In the spirit of the Warriors' dominance all season long, Curry didn't need to come back into the game in the second half anyways. He had the highest-scoring first half of his playoff career with 24 points, the same total he finished with in a 104-78 win.

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While Curry was available to return, coach Steve Kerr opted to play it safe and keep the soon-to-be repeat MVP on the bench.