Steph Curry injury leaves Warriors season hanging despite play-in spot

The Golden State Warriors have officially locked in a place in the NBA play-in tournament, but uncertainty around Steph Curry is threatening to derail their season.

Golden State secured its spot after the Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, confirming the Warriors’ third straight play-in appearance.

Curry decision could define season

Curry remains sidelined with a right knee injury and has no confirmed return date, leaving the Warriors facing a critical decision in the final stretch.

Head coach Steve Kerr has indicated the team does not want to rush the 12-time All-Star back just for the play-in, raising the possibility that the 38-year-old could be shut down for the rest of the campaign if he is not fully ready.

His knee is expected to be re-evaluated this week, with the results likely to shape the direction of Golden State’s postseason push.

Time running out

The Warriors entered Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets with a 36-38 record, sitting 10th in the Western Conference.

With just seven games left in the regular season, the window for Curry’s return is rapidly closing.

Golden State’s next game comes against the San Antonio Spurs, featuring rising star Victor Wembanyama, though Curry’s availability remains uncertain.

Injury-hit season

Curry has played just 39 games during an injury-disrupted 2025-26 campaign.

Despite that, the two-time MVP has averaged 27.2 points on 46.8% shooting, along with 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals, while hitting 4.5 three-pointers per game at a 39.1% rate.

With the play-in approaching, the Warriors now face a defining call that could determine whether their season extends into the playoffs or comes to an early end.