The Golden State Warriors are heading into Friday’s must-win NBA Play-In Tournament elimination game against the Phoenix Suns with a significant boost: a favorable injury report that could tilt the scales in their favor at the most critical juncture of the season.
Stephen Curry, the heart and soul of the Warriors, is not listed on the injury report for Friday’s matchup in Phoenix. This marks a notable development following an early scare in Golden State’s dramatic comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Curry briefly exited to the locker room in the opening moments of that contest but returned to deliver a vintage performance, exploding for 35 points—including 27 in the second half—and draining the go-ahead three-pointer with 50.4 seconds remaining to complete a 13-point fourth-quarter rally.
The two-time MVP’s availability comes at the perfect time. Over the regular season, Curry averaged 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists against the Suns, and Golden State claimed three of the four meetings between the teams. His rhythm appears to be peaking just as the stakes reach their highest point.
On the other side, the Suns are dealing with uncertainty that could blunt their defensive versatility and shooting depth. Phoenix has listed starting center Mark Williams (left foot soreness) and guard Grayson Allen (left hamstring) as questionable for the win-or-go-home clash.
Williams logged 22 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, posting four points, four rebounds, and three blocks. However, he has managed just 5.5 points per game over his last two outings. Allen has already missed Phoenix’s previous two games after exiting their April 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. If Allen is unable to play, the Suns would be without one of their most reliable perimeter shooters, potentially opening the floor for Golden State’s defense to apply relentless pressure and limit Phoenix’s spacing.
The Warriors themselves are not without challenges. Jimmy Butler remains sidelined following right ACL surgery, while Moses Moody and Quinten Post are also out. Adding another layer of intrigue is the status of Kristaps Porzingis, who is listed as questionable with right ankle soreness.
Porzingis was instrumental in the Clippers comeback, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Yet he appeared to favor his ankle late in the game, prompting concerns that the issue may have flared up during the contest. He is expected to test the ankle during Friday’s shootaround and pregame warmups before a final decision is made. His potential absence would test Golden State’s frontcourt depth in a game that could be decided by rebounding battles and interior defense.
Phoenix enters the contest under significant pressure after blowing an 11-point lead with less than seven minutes left in their Tuesday loss to Portland. Now facing elimination on their home floor, the Suns must find a way to regroup quickly. The Warriors, meanwhile, arrive with momentum and a proven knack for executing in high-leverage moments, as evidenced by their resilient showing against the Clippers.
Friday’s game, set for 7 p.m. MST (10 p.m. ET) at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and available on Prime Video, will decide the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round date with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Curry fully healthy and operating at a high level after his knee recovery, the Suns potentially shorthanded on the perimeter and in the paint, and Porzingis’ availability hanging in the balance, this elimination matchup boils down to depth, execution under duress, and the ability to seize control when adversity strikes.
For the Warriors, the Suns’ injury concerns represent a timely “superweapon”—a chance to exploit vulnerabilities in a desperate, do-or-die environment. In the Bay Area and beyond, the belief is growing: when everything is on the line, Golden State may have just received the edge it needs to keep its playoff hopes alive.