The Golden State Warriors made a notable decision regarding Stephen Curry just days before the play-in tournament. Curry recently returned to action after missing 27 consecutive games with a right knee injury, but his absence significantly derailed Golden State’s season.
During that stretch, the Warriors slid down the Western Conference standings and ultimately settled into the 10th seed, locking them into the play-in scenario with no room to climb.
Despite the slide, Curry’s return has immediately provided a boost and a sense of belief for a team whose postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. With him on the floor, Golden State remains dangerous enough to compete, even if their margin for error is slim.
© David Gonzales-Imagn Images
In his return against the Houston Rockets, Curry delivered 29 points in just 26 minutes, shooting 50% from three-point range and nearly leading a comeback before the Warriors fell 117-116. He followed that up against the Sacramento Kings with 17 points, including a clutch game-tying three-pointer late, helping Golden State secure a 110-105 win.
With the regular season winding down, the Warriors are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers, but the game carries little significance in the standings. Golden State is already locked into the 10th seed, leaving no tangible incentive beyond rhythm and health.
As a result, the Warriors announced they have ruled Curry out due to injury management, as they seek to prioritize his long-term availability over a meaningless regular-season game. It appears the franchise is focused on preserving him for what lies ahead rather than risking further setbacks.
Nevertheless, Golden State’s path forward remains daunting. Once the regular season concludes, the Warriors will travel to face either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Los Angeles Clippers in their first play-in game.
If they win, they will then face the loser of the matchup between the team with the eighth best record and the Phoenix Suns for a chance to secure the eighth seed. Awaiting them, if they advance, would be a first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the NBA’s best record entering the playoffs.
