Stephen Curry faces minutes restriction in Warriors’ crucial play-in game against Clippers

The Golden State Warriors face their biggest test of a tumultuous season with Stephen Curry operating under significant limitations. Warriors coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday that the franchise cornerstone will be restricted to fewer than 40 minutes in Wednesday’s must-win play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

PROFIL JOUEUR

Stephen CURRY

Poste(s): Meneur

Taille: 191 cm

Âge: 38 ans (14/03/1988)

Nationalités:

Stats 2025-2026 / NBA

PTS

26,6

#12

REB

3,6

#234

PD

4,7

#59

Curry joins teammates Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in facing the same minutes restriction, creating a challenging scenario for Golden State in an elimination contest. The Warriors limped to a 37-45 record and the 10th seed in the Western Conference, largely derailed by a catastrophic injury to their blockbuster acquisition Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL in January.

A season defined by injury struggles

The Warriors’ disappointing campaign took another hit when Curry experienced knee pain and swelling during a January 24th workout before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves. Initially expecting to miss minimal time, Curry told reporters he anticipated being out « a week, ten days max. » Instead, the injury proved far more severe, sidelining him for 27 games over just over two months.

Curry’s absence exposed the Warriors’ lack of depth and championship-caliber talent beyond their aging core. The team struggled mightily without their floor general, posting a 9-18 record during his extended absence. When asked about managing this knee issue long-term, Curry provided a measured response: « Yes and no. There’s nothing structurally wrong with my knee. So it’s not like I’m compromised out there. It is a new normal, though, if that makes sense. »

The timing couldn’t be worse for Golden State, facing a Clippers team that rested Kawhi Leonard down the stretch specifically for this matchup. Leonard enjoyed a career-high 27.9 points per game during his healthiest season as a Clipper, playing his second-most games in a Los Angeles uniform.

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Championship window closing rapidly

Wednesday’s contest represents a rematch of Sunday’s regular-season finale, which the Clippers won 115-110. For the Warriors, defeat would end a season they’d prefer to forget, marking a dramatic fall from their championship expectations. Curry managed just four appearances in the team’s final five regular-season games, averaging 20.3 points across 26.8 minutes while the Warriors went 1-3.

Kerr has been vocal about the league’s demanding schedule contributing to these injury concerns. « I know this will not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it because it’s obvious we need to play fewer games — we need to take 10 games off the schedule, » he said in March. « I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games. »

The Warriors must now maximize limited minutes from their best players while Butler remains unavailable due to his ACL tear. With their championship window rapidly closing, Wednesday’s play-in game could mark the beginning of the end for one of the NBA’s most successful dynasties.