Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is sidelined due to lingering soreness in his right knee, guaranteeing he will miss at least five more games. The Warriors announced Thursday that Curry will be out for the next 10 days and will be reevaluated afterward. While an MRI showed no structural damage, the pain and swelling persist, raising concerns about his availability.
Curry last played on January 30, exiting a game after the third quarter following contact on a drive. Since then, he has missed 17 games this season. His continued absence now jeopardizes his eligibility for the NBA’s regular-season awards, potentially ending a five-year streak of All-NBA selections. Coach Steve Kerr described the issue as “just lingering soreness,” but the prolonged absence signals a more significant impact on the team’s performance.
Warriors’ Play-In Hopes Depend on Curry’s Return and the Team’s Health Challenges
The Warriors, currently 29-27 and eighth in the Western Conference, remain comfortably in the play-in tournament picture, but their record risks falling to .500 or worse by Curry’s anticipated return. Their next four matchups are against Denver, New Orleans, Memphis, and the Lakers, with Curry possibly returning on March 2 versus the Los Angeles Clippers if cleared.
Amid the setback, there is a silver lining as recent acquisition Kristaps Porziņģis made his debut after recovering from an Achilles injury, contributing 12 points in 17 minutes. However, with Curry sidelined and Jimmy Butler III already out for the season, the Warriors face challenges in maintaining competitiveness and getting their top players on the court consistently. Curry’s recovery timeline and impact will be critical as Golden State navigates the final stretch of the regular season and prepares for the play-in tournament.
