The Golden State Warriors invited fans to watch a little basketball to get a grasp of what to expect this year, and Stephen Curry nearly sent everyone home with a collective stomachache just two days before the NBA season started.

One awkward step by the four-time NBA champion turned what should have been a fun scrimmage into an opening-night injury scare. It happened during a blue-versus-yellow scrimmage. Curry was on the blue team, and De'Anthony Melton stepped up to defend him.

The Warriors guard controlled the ball, seemed ready to pick up his dribble, then took a few more bounces before suddenly favoring his leg. The two-time MVP quickly passed to a teammate as the crowd let out a collective "OOOH."

Curry shook his head and headed to the locker room, while Graham Ike checked in to replace him, still chewing his mouthpiece like usual. Warriors fans panicked as their All-Star left the court, with the NBA season only two days away and the Lakers waiting in Los Angeles.

Reporters confirmed the issue was a right ankle tweak after initial fears of a knee injury lingered online. Curry completed Monday's practice before Steve Kerr confirmed he would play in Wednesday's opener, but fans had already voiced their concerns.

One fan wrote, "uh oh. Opening night is less than 72 hours away." Another immediately prepared excuses for the Lakers matchup and added, "Lakers win against us on Wednesday doesn’t count! Curry hurt."

A third supporter skipped straight to the imagined final score, writing, "So we're getting blown out by Lakers at the season opener." Another fan added, "If he's out I'm charging back my season tickets."

The replies captured the peculiar terror of preseason basketball. Nobody cares about the score until the franchise player starts walking funny.

Curry's right ankle can reopen old wounds for Warriors supporters after repeated sprains and surgeries threatened his early NBA career.

The 2009 draft pick dealt with plenty of issues long before the shooting records, championships, and MVPs made him the face of the city.

Those issues have prompted NFL fans to compare them to Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' 2024 ankle injury. Golden State already has other health issues to navigate heading into the opener.

Emerging guard Brandin Podziemski tweaked his back and missed practice, and he's day-to-day on the injury report ahead of the Lakers matchup.

Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis will not travel with the team to Los Angeles because of an undisclosed illness.