Stephen Curry Injury Sidelined for 2 More Games; Warriors Fall to 35-38 Record

Stephen Curry will miss his 25th consecutive game due to a right knee injury as the 35-38 Golden State Warriors struggle in the 10th seed.

Stephen Curry will remain sidelined for at least two additional contests due to a persistent right knee injury, extending a prolonged absence that has now reached 25 consecutive games. The Golden State Warriors star guard has been out of the lineup since January 30, a period during which the team has struggled to an 8-15 record. Without their primary playmaker, the franchise has slid to a 35-38 overall mark, leaving them firmly entrenched in the 10th seed of the Western Conference standings. Curry is officially ruled out for Friday night’s home matchup against the Washington Wizards and Sunday’s road game versus the Denver Nuggets.

While multiple MRIs have confirmed there is no structural damage to the joint, Curry continues to battle significant pain and swelling associated with a diagnosis of "runner’s knee." The 35-38 Warriors are currently locked into the play-in bracket, but the path to the postseason is narrowing as the regular season approaches its April 12 conclusion. Coach Steve Kerr noted that the team is running out of games to provide the guard with a necessary runway for a return. The franchise has already lost starting wings Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody to season-ending knee injuries, further depleting a roster that has tumbled toward the bottom of the playoff picture.

Medical Hurdles and Scrimmage Clearance

Rick Celebrini, the franchise's lead medical decision-maker, has maintained a cautious approach regarding the Stephen Curry injury recovery process. Although Curry has graduated to intensified court work over the last several weeks, he failed to receive the necessary clearance for a 5-on-5 scrimmage during recent evaluations. This specific milestone was a prerequisite the team had previously hoped to achieve in recent days. Curry intends to utilize the upcoming week to further ramp up his physical activity in another attempt to secure the green light for full-contact practice.

Internal conversations within the Warriors organization have surfaced regarding the viability of bringing the star back for what some perceive as a doomed season. Despite these internal doubts, Curry remains motivated to return to the floor before the schedule concludes. The guard has not abandoned hope of appearing in late regular-season games, provided he can overcome the setbacks that have hampered his progress since late January. The team’s next opportunity to integrate him into the lineup following the two-game absence will be Wednesday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs, which is scheduled to air on ESPN.

Steve Kerr on the Looming Shutdown

Coach Steve Kerr addressed the media pregame Friday, acknowledging that the clock is ticking on a potential comeback. Kerr explicitly stated that the team would not bring Curry back solely for a play-in game appearance. The coaching staff believes the guard requires a series of live game repetitions to find his rhythm before the stakes escalate in the postseason. If the green light from the medical staff does not arrive soon, Kerr indicated that a total shutdown for the remainder of the year would become inevitable.

With the regular season ending on April 12, the window for a return is closing rapidly. The Warriors' 8-15 record in Curry's absence highlights the difficulty the team faces in maintaining competitiveness without his offensive production. The loss of Butler III and Moody has already compromised the team's defensive depth on the wing, leaving the roster thin as they prepare for the Washington and Denver matchups. The franchise must now weigh the long-term health of their star against the immediate need to climb out of the 10th seed.

Play-in Implications and Standing Outlook

The current 35-38 record places Golden State in a precarious position within the Western Conference hierarchy. Being locked into the play-in bracket means the team will likely face a single-elimination scenario to advance to the standard playoff rounds. The absence of Curry for 25 straight games has stripped the team of its late-game execution, contributing to their sub-.500 winning percentage during this stretch. As the team heads to Denver following the Wizards game, the pressure to secure wins without their leading scorer intensifies.

Curry’s focus remains on the next seven days of court work to prove his readiness to Celebrini. The persistence of swelling has been the primary deterrent in his rehabilitation, despite the lack of structural issues found in imaging. If the ramp-up period next week does not result in a 5-on-5 scrimmage, the Warriors may be forced to finalize their postseason plans without the two-time MVP. For now, the team awaits the results of his next medical evaluation following the road trip to Colorado.