Preview: Curry returns!

The path won't be easy, but the return of their star helps Warriors in a ton of ways

The Golden State Warriors don’t have much regular season left. Five games left over the course of the next week, and that’s it. However, things are looking much brighter for the 10th seeded Warriors today, with the return of Stephen Curry. After two months of playing without him, some competitive edges have emerged within the depths of what would have been the Warriors bench at the start of the season. There may well be something threatening building here in the coming week. If this team can get healthy.

Curry has only played 39 games this season. If he ends up at 45 games or fewer it would be his lowest since that 2019 season where he only played five games (broken hand). Beyond that, you have to go all the way back to 2011-12, when he played only 26 games while dealing with a plethora of ankle/foot issues. This has been weird for Golden State, and everyone is going to be lifted by his return.

“You cannot measure it brother.

We're very happy to have him back. For me, he's the greatest of all time.”

-Gui Santos, on the team's excitment level for Curry's return.

Still no Al Horford or Quinten Post, but both appear to be working back from their injuries and are likely to be back in the lineup before the close of the regular season. All hands on deck is off the table at this point in this zany season, but the Warriors are reloading at a good time.

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GAME DETAILS

WHO: Golden State Warriors (36-41) vs. Houston Rockets (48-29)

WHEN: Sunday, April 5th, 2026; 7pm PST

WATCH: NBCSBA

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He hath returned! REJOICE!

Curry’s return, coming on Easter is almost too perfect of a storyline, and I’m excited to see him play with Gui Santos who has defined all odds to lead the team in scoring on these last two months. Curry has always thrived with a partner, and Santos’ cut to the rim with maximum hustle style is sure to mesh well. You know Curry has been watching these games, and is eager to partner with this new-look Warriors squad.

Now, to be realistic, this team is almost certainly locked into the 10th spot - three games back from the Clippers - so they’ll be playing with the intent of fine-tuning prior to the playoffs rather than scraping for every inch of their playoff lives. That will come later. For now, the Warriors and Curry get five games to ease into shape.

And this will be a work in progress. Golden State is locked into the Play-in Tournament alongside the Clippers and Blazers, neither of which has proven to be an especially favorable matchup for the Warriors this season. As the injuries have continued to mount in Curry’s absence, the goal posts for what counts as a success this season have fundamentally shifted.

Curry’s return today smooths a lot of that away for a moment, turning us instead to hope. To Believe. Maybe Curry and the rest have another miracle in them this season. Maybe even more than one. That’s the beauty of a player as transcendent as Curry, it allows for so much more delusional optimism. The old, familiar magic still resides in him.

Is this all too foolish? Should the team just have shut down Curry for the year?

"We owe it to our fans to give them the opportunity to watch Steph Curry play basketball this year," Kerr said. “And Steph doesn’t even think twice about that. That’s what he wants. That’s what we want. That’s what our fans want. So we’re going to do that.”

We are going to play ball!

With Stephen Curry!

There’s a version of this roster - even currently - that can work. Curry and Podz at point of attack, with Santos on the wing and Porzingis and/or Horford running center while Draymond Green plays free safety? That’s not a bad setup.

Of course, the Warriors don’t know exactly what they have just yet. This iteration of the roster hasn’t seen the court together outside of practice. But that’s part of the charm of today’s game. This isn’t the organized plan. This is the boulder lifting and some new version of this season emerging.

I’m here for it.

Maybe Curry and the Warriors can pull it off, maybe they can’t. But Curry is back, and they’re going to try, and that’s a compelling watch. I want another miracle or two, please.

Prediction

I’m in NYC this week, and it’s supposed to be cold and drizzly. Hit me with your best “close to a subway or otherwise indoors” things to do.

Also, the Warriors win. Curry doesn’t even look rusty - though he does throw a pass or two away for no reason.