Curry Out Until March 2
Stephen Curry is sidelined with runner's knee with bone bruising, missing his seventh game this season. A second MRI showed no structural damage, and he will be re-evaluated March 1st with earliest possible return March 2nd against the LA Clippers. The Warriors are 6-11 in games without Curry and currently sit 29-27 in the Western Conference.
- The injury, described as patellofemoral pain syndrome, has been a lingering issue for Curry, who last played on January 30th. The discomfort is significant enough that he has been standing for entire games on the sideline because sitting aggravates the pain. - With this extended absence, Curry will not meet the 65-game minimum required to be eligible for postseason awards like All-NBA honors. He was averaging 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. - The Warriors' offense struggles significantly without Curry, with their offensive rating dropping from 119.3 with him on the court to about 106.4 without him. The team's field goal percentage also sees a notable decline in his absence. - Golden State's playoff position is precarious; they currently hold the 8th seed in the Western Conference, placing them in the Play-In Tournament. They are just ahead of the 9th-place LA Clippers and 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers. - The team is already compensating for the season-ending ACL tear of forward Jimmy Butler. To bolster the lineup, the Warriors recently traded for Kristaps Porzingis, who made his debut with 12 points in 17 minutes against the Boston Celtics. - In the games scheduled before Curry's potential March 2nd return, the Warriors will face the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
