Stephen Curry Nails Tunnel Shot, Returns to Warriors

Merlin sees Stephen Curry drain a one handed tunnel shot during warmups, then sprint into the Warriors locker room. He returns from a five game absence with a thigh contusion, a timely lift for a 13 12 Warriors squad that needs his 27.9 points, 4.0 assists and 39.1 percent from three when healthy. Merlin recalls the old Oracle rituals and knows a tunnel make is more than a party trick. Curry hitting from distance restores spacing and confidence, which can ripple through the rotation, but Golden State must manage his minutes and shore up defense if that spark is to turn into sustained wins.