With less than two weeks remaining in the NBA regular season, the Golden State Warriors have officially secured their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. However, climbing out of the 10th seed-the final lifeline for the postseason-remains a steep uphill battle. The season took a drastic turn on January 30, when Stephen Curry went down with a right knee injury.
At that moment, the Warriors held a respectable 27-24 record. Since then, Golden State has struggled to find an identity, winning just nine of their last 25 games to sit at 36-39. Perhaps most concerning is that of those nine victories, only three came against teams with winning records (Suns, Nuggets, and Rockets).
It’s a harsh reality check for the Dubs: without the greatest shooter of all time, this roster lacks the offensive gravity and late-game composure needed to compete with the elite of the Western Conference.
The Return of Number 30: Stephen Curry Targets Sunday’s Clash vs. Houston
There is finally light at the end of the tunnel for the Bay Area faithful. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Stephen Curry has set his sights on a return this Sunday, April 6, in a high-stakes matchup against the Houston Rockets and Kevin Durant.
This gives Curry a five-game window to shake off the rust before the Warriors embark on their fourth Play-In Tournament appearance, the most of any team in the West since the format’s inception in 2020.
Prior to the injury, Curry was playing at an All-NBA level, averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists per game. But his value transcends the box score; he is the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the team. During his absence, young players like Brandin Podziemski, Pat Spencer, and Gui Santos were thrust into high-leverage minutes.
While the win-loss column didn’t reflect it, that experience could pay dividends in a single-elimination scenario. With Curry back in the fold, those “young legs” combined with the savvy of Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford create a unique veteran-youth mix that no top seed wants to face in April.
Chasing Ring Number Five: Is This the Last Stand for the Warriors Dynasty?
History tells us that a healthy Stephen Curry almost guarantees a playoff run. In the last 13 seasons, the Warriors have missed the postseason only twice when their superstar point guard was available. However, time is no longer on their side. At this stage of his career, Curry is chasing a fifth championship ring to further solidify his legacy among the top five players to ever lace them up.
The current roster, bolstered by the frontcourt championship depth of Porzingis and Horford, is designed for one final push, but the margin for error is non-existent. If a deep run doesn’t materialize this season, the rumors surrounding the 2026 off-season will only grow louder.
The basketball world is already buzzing about the potential for a final “Super Team” pairing with LeBron James. Whether that happens in San Francisco or elsewhere remains to be seen, but for now, the focus is squarely on Sunday. If the Warriors want to be more than a play-in footnote, they need the “Chef” to cook starting this weekend.
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