The Golden State Warriors have spent the final weeks of the regular season in a holding pattern. Locked into the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, they cannot move up. They cannot move down. Their postseason fate will be determined not by wins and losses, but by survival—two consecutive road victories in the play-in tournament just to earn the right to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
But before the Warriors can think about the play-in, they need to get their best player ready. And on Friday night against the Sacramento Kings, Stephen Curry will take another step toward being fully unleashed.
According to head coach Steve Kerr, Curry’s minutes restriction will be increased beyond the previous 25-minute limit. The decision comes after the Warriors held him out of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers as part of injury management on the front end of a back-to-back.
“Lineup alert: Stephen Curry (injury management) will have his 25-minute limit increased Friday, per coach Kerr,” Underdog NBA reported.
It’s a small adjustment on paper. But for a Warriors team that has been without its superstar for 27 games this season, it’s a significant milestone.
The Injury: A Season Defined by Absence
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Curry’s 2025-26 campaign has been a study in frustration. A “runner’s knee” condition sidelined him for nearly two months, forcing the Warriors to navigate the brutal Western Conference without their engine. In his absence, the team stumbled. The chemistry faltered. The wins became harder to come by.
Since returning, Curry has appeared in just two games. The Warriors have been cautious—painfully cautious—limiting his minutes and sitting him in back-to-back situations to avoid aggravating the injury.
But the numbers don’t lie. Even at 37, even after all the mileage, Curry remains one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the league. In 41 games this season, he is averaging 27.0 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, shooting 46.8% from the field.
The question has never been whether Curry can still play. It’s whether his body will let him.
The Adjustment: From Recovery to Competition
The decision to increase Curry’s minutes reflects a philosophical shift. The Warriors are moving from recovery mode to competitive preparation.
With only two regular-season games remaining, Golden State is using these final opportunities to build rhythm. Team insider Anthony Slater highlighted the broader plan: the Warriors hope to get multiple key players on the court together before the postseason.
“Warriors are hopeful Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford all play tomorrow night in Sacramento, giving them two games of data/reps to gear up for next Wednesday’s play-in elimination game,” Slater reported. “Horford scrimmaged yesterday.”
Porzingis has barely shared the floor with Curry this season. Injuries have prevented the kind of continuity that championship teams require. Friday night will mark just their second appearance together—a startling statistic for a team that entered the season with title aspirations.
But better late than never. And with the play-in looming, every rep matters.
The Play-In Picture: What’s at Stake
The Warriors enter Friday’s game with a 37-43 record. They cannot improve their seeding. They will face either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Los Angeles Clippers in the 9-10 play-in matchup, where a loss would end their season.
League sentiment around Golden State’s postseason chances has been skeptical at best. Tim Bontemps of ESPN wrote that the “immediate answer” from insiders regarding the Warriors’ ability to advance was “no,” citing injuries and inconsistency as major factors.
But sentiment can shift. And Curry has a way of making skeptics look foolish.
His presence alone changes the geometry of the game. He bends defenses. He commands attention. He gives his teammates confidence simply by being on the floor. The Warriors are not the same team without him. But with him, they have a puncher’s chance.
The Balancing Act: Health vs. Rhythm
Throughout the season, Kerr has emphasized that the team would “prioritize health” over rhythm. That strategy explains the cautious handling of Curry’s minutes, the decision to sit him on back-to-backs, the slow ramp-up.
But now, with the play-in days away, the calculus is shifting.
Curry needs to play. He needs to find his rhythm. He needs to build chemistry with Porzingis and the rest of the rotation. The Warriors cannot afford to enter an elimination game with their superstar still searching for his timing.
Friday’s game against the Kings is not about the standings. It’s about preparation. It’s about seeing Curry play extended minutes, testing his knee, building confidence. It’s about giving the coaching staff a clearer picture of how the team might operate in a win-or-go-home scenario.
The Verdict: A Positive Step, But Not Yet a Solution
The Warriors are not contenders this season. That’s the reality. The injuries have been too numerous, the roster too unsettled, the margin for error too thin.
But they have Stephen Curry. And as long as they have him, they have hope.
The decision to increase his minutes is a positive step. It signals that the medical staff believes he is ready for a heavier workload. It gives the Warriors a chance to build something resembling continuity before the play-in.
But it’s not a cure-all. The Warriors are still flawed. The supporting cast is still depleted. And the play-in tournament is a crapshoot, where anything can happen.
Curry’s expanded role on Friday night will be a test—of his knee, of his conditioning, of his ability to carry a team that has leaned on him for over a decade.
If he looks like himself, the Warriors will enter the play-in with cautious optimism. If he struggles, the doubts will only grow louder.
Either way, the limit is lifted. The training wheels are off. And for better or worse, Stephen Curry is about to be unleashed.