Stephen Curry delivered a vintage performance to help the Golden State Warriors survive a high-stakes play-in matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, but not without giving fans a few anxious moments. The good news arrived quickly: Curry was not listed on the Warriors’ initial injury report for Friday night’s win-or-go-home game against the Phoenix Suns.
That absence from the report represents the clearest indication yet that Golden State expects its superstar guard to be available and ready for the critical contest in Phoenix. With a spot in the Western Conference playoffs—and a first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder—on the line, Curry’s expected availability could be the difference between an early offseason and a chance to extend their postseason run.
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Curry, who only recently returned from a right knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games, looked every bit like his old self in Wednesday’s 126-121 comeback victory over the Clippers. He finished with 35 points, including seven made three-pointers, and exploded for 27 of those points in the second half as the Warriors erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Still, the game was not without concern. Curry briefly left for the locker room in the first quarter before returning to the bench. Reports indicated he was not limping or showing obvious signs of pain at that time, but the mid-game exit naturally raised eyebrows given his recent history. Later in the contest, there were sequences where he got up slowly, prompting further speculation about his physical condition.
Yet Curry powered through, logging nearly 36 minutes—his highest total since returning from the knee issue—and closed the game like the two-time MVP he is. The fact that the Warriors’ initial injury report for the Suns game carried no mention of Curry suggests the medical staff and coaching team saw nothing in Wednesday’s performance serious enough to warrant caution heading into the season’s most important night so far.
This development carries extra weight because Curry had been on a strict workload management plan. As recently as April 13, reports indicated he would face minutes restrictions in the Clippers game, with his playing time capped below 30 minutes in his initial outings back from injury. Pushing close to 36 minutes and still dominating late in a must-win scenario shows encouraging progress for the 38-year-old leader.
For the Warriors, who have battled injuries and inconsistency all season, having Curry fully available transforms their outlook. He remains the offensive engine capable of swinging games on his own, as he reminded everyone with his second-half explosion against the Clippers. A Warriors team with a healthy, confident Curry is dangerous even on the road in a hostile environment.
On the flip side, the injury report was not entirely clean. Anthony Slater of The Athletic noted that Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for Friday night with right ankle soreness after being seen limping slightly postgame on Wednesday. No other major surprises appeared on the report.
The stakes could not be higher. Golden State advanced from the first play-in game and now faces the Suns for the West’s No. 8 seed. A victory in Phoenix would secure a first-round matchup against Oklahoma City; a loss would end their season. Phoenix, hosting the game at the Mortgage Matchup Center, stands between the Warriors and that opportunity.
Curry’s status was always going to be the dominant pregame storyline, especially after the visible concerns against the Clippers. The positive injury report delivers a much-needed boost of optimism for Warriors fans who have watched their team navigate a roller-coaster campaign.
At this stage of the season, official listings carry more significance than real-time observations or body language. The Warriors clearly believe Curry came through Wednesday’s physical battle in good enough shape to push forward without restrictions flagged. For a franchise that has leaned on his brilliance for over a decade, that message is as encouraging as it gets.