The Golden State Warriors will keep Stephen Curry sidelined for at least two more games as the guard continues to deal with a lingering right knee issue. League sources told ESPN that the setback will extend Curry’s absence to at least 25 straight games, with the team still waiting for medical clearance that would allow him to return to full-contact work.
Curry has increased his on-court activity in recent weeks, but he still has not been approved for a 5-on-5 scrimmage. That step remains important before any return, and the Warriors are closely monitoring the response from Rick Celebrini, the franchise’s lead medical decision-maker.
Return timeline remains uncertain
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Friday’s game that the team is running out of time to bring Curry back safely. Kerr made it clear that a comeback cannot be limited to a single high-stakes appearance, especially with the club locked into the play-in bracket.
“We’re not bringing him back [only] for the play-in game,” Kerr said. “He’d need to play some games. We need to give him a runway if this is going to work. And we are running out of games. That’s fair to say.”
The next week could be decisive for Curry’s availability. Team sources said he still hopes to return before the regular season ends, but he must first earn clearance to scrimmage and then prove the knee can handle game-speed contact without a setback.
Warriors facing a steep climb without Curry
Golden State has struggled badly during Curry’s absence, posting an 8-15 record without him and falling to 35-38 overall. That drop has left the Warriors in 10th place in the Western Conference, a position that offers no margin for error as the postseason race tightens.
The team has also been hit by other injuries, with starting wings Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody both out for the season because of knee problems. The losses have fueled internal debate about whether a return for Curry is worth the risk given how unstable the season has become.
What remains on the schedule
Curry will miss Friday’s home game against the Washington Wizards and Sunday’s road matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Golden State’s next game comes Wednesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs in an ESPN broadcast, giving the staff another checkpoint in a season that now has little room left for recovery.
The regular season ends April 12, and the Warriors are already locked into the play-in tournament. Curry’s status through that stretch will depend on how his knee responds to the ramp-up process over the next several days.
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