The wait is finally over, Golden State Warriors fans.

Stephen Curry is expected to be cleared to return Sunday against the Houston Rockets after missing over two months and 27 consecutive games due to a persistent knee injury, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Twenty-seven games. That's two months of the Warriors treading water without their superstar. And believe me, they've been treading - barely keeping their heads above the playoff line while their leader watched from the sideline in street clothes.

Now, the big question: Can Curry pick up where he left off?

I've covered enough comebacks to know this isn't a given. Two months is a long time. The game speeds up when you're watching from the bench. Your timing gets off. Your conditioning isn't game-ready no matter how hard you work in practice. And at 38 years old, Curry doesn't have the luxury of shaking off rust quickly.

But here's the thing about the Chef - he's never been just a normal player. When he gets hot, the laws of physics don't apply. He can single-handedly change a game's entire complexion in the span of two minutes. That's not hyperbole, that's his career highlight reel.

The Warriors need him desperately. They're fighting for playoff positioning in a brutal Western Conference. Every game matters, and every game without Curry has felt like playing with one hand tied behind their back.

I expect Golden State to be cautious with his minutes at first. Maybe 20-25 minutes to start, see how the knee responds, make sure there's no setback. The last thing they want is to rush him back and have him re-injure it.

But make no mistake - the moment he checks in Sunday, the entire dynamic of the Warriors' season changes. Opponents who were game-planning for a Curry-less squad now have to account for the greatest shooter who ever lived.

That changes everything.

I'm not saying Golden State is suddenly a championship contender again. This isn't 2015. But with Curry healthy, they're dangerous enough to make some noise in the playoffs. And in a wide-open West, dangerous is all you need to be.

Welcome back, Chef. We missed you.

That's what sports is all about, folks.