The Golden State Warriors just caught the biggest possible break heading into Friday night’s showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota officially listed superstar Anthony Edwards as questionable with right knee soreness for the matchup, instantly turning what looked like a nightmare game into a much more manageable one for a Curry-less Golden State squad.
The Timberwolves also listed reserve wing Ayo Dosunmu as questionable with a right thumb sprain.
For the Warriors, Edwards’ potential absence is nothing short of a nuclear-level relief as they continue grinding through life without their injured franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry.
Edwards has been an absolute monster for Minnesota all season, and his possible absence completely flips the script on Friday’s contest.
The 22-year-old phenom just dropped 36 points on 11-of-17 shooting in Minnesota’s 153–128 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, adding five assists, two rebounds and a steal in 35 minutes. That performance was his 18th game of 35+ points this season and perfectly illustrated why he’s been carrying the Timberwolves’ entire offense during a brutal stretch of the schedule.
If Edwards sits, the Timberwolves lose the one guy who’s been their offensive heartbeat.
That’s massive for Golden State.
The Warriors have dropped three straight games and are fighting just to stay competitive without Curry — the guy who makes everything work. Now, with the Timberwolves potentially missing their own MVP-caliber star, Golden State suddenly gets a lifeline.
Warriors Still Waiting on Stephen Curry’s Return
While they monitor Edwards’ status, the Warriors are still in full limbo mode with Curry.
Head coach Steve Kerr said Thursday there is still no firm timetable for the two-time MVP’s return. According to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, Kerr confirmed Curry had another solid individual workout but hasn’t moved beyond that stage yet.
“Kerr says Steph is trending in the right direction but still hasn’t progressed beyond individual work,” Friedell reported. “Kerr said he got a good workout in today, but it remains unclear when he’ll return. ‘He’ll be back when he’s back.’”
The team has set no internal deadline, Kerr added.
Curry has now missed 15 games with patellofemoral pain syndrome and a bone bruise in his right knee. He returned to individual workouts earlier this week after a medical re-evaluation but hasn’t rejoined full team practices. Golden State plans to check on him again in about 10 days.
Golden State Trying to Stay Afloat Without Curry
The ultra-cautious approach shows just how irreplaceable Curry remains.
The four-time champion last suited up on Jan. 30 against the Detroit Pistons and still leads the Warriors in scoring at 27.2 points per game this season. Since he went down, Golden State is just 5–10 and has looked inconsistent without his spacing and playmaking.
Kerr admitted Curry is dying to get back out there.
“He’s frustrated,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game. “He wants to be out there for his guys… He’s dying to be out there.”
Still, the Warriors are following a strict, methodical plan led by director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini.
“It’s pretty methodical,” Kerr said. “Rick is as good as they come, and he’s going to be very cautious and make sure Steph gets the right build-up.”
Tough Schedule Ahead for Warriors
Friday’s game against Minnesota kicks off a brutal stretch for Golden State: a four-game road trip against the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons.
If Curry stays out through the next medical check, his absence could stretch close to 20 games.
With only 17 regular-season games left and the Western Conference playoff race tighter than ever, every single contest matters.
For now, the Warriors are still waiting on their superstar — but they might have just dodged a nuke if Anthony Edwards is forced to sit Friday night.