The Warriors are finally catching a break-and it couldn’t come at a better time.
After a rough night in Minneapolis, where they were thoroughly outmatched without their veteran anchors, Golden State is expected to welcome back both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for Wednesday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz. That’s a serious boost for a team trying to find its footing in a Western Conference that’s tight from top to bottom.
Curry has been dealing with right patellofemoral inflammation-essentially a sore knee-and Green has been battling a lingering back issue. Both are officially listed as probable, and while nothing’s guaranteed until tip-off, the signs are pointing in the right direction.
Their absence was felt in a big way Monday night. The Warriors, without their offensive engine and defensive heartbeat, were run off the floor in a 108-83 loss to the Timberwolves.
That 25-point margin wasn’t just a bad night-it was one of their worst defeats of the season. And the numbers told the story.
Golden State shot a season-low 23.1% from three, unable to generate clean looks or capitalize on the few they got. Without Curry’s gravity pulling defenders out of position and Green’s ability to orchestrate on both ends, the Warriors looked disjointed and out of sync.
Rookie Quinten Post led the team with 13 points, and Brandin Podziemski chipped in 12 points and seven boards. But let’s be real-when your top scorers are rookies in a game like that, you’re probably not walking away with a win. The Timberwolves snapped a five-game skid, and Golden State left the floor searching for answers.
Now, with Curry and Green likely to return, the Warriors have a chance to reset. Sitting at 26-22 and clinging to the eighth seed in the West, every game matters. And with Jimmy Butler III out for the season due to a torn ACL and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined by a bone bruise, the pressure on Curry to carry the offensive load is heavier than ever.
Fortunately, he’s more than capable. Curry is currently 10th in the league in scoring at 27.3 points per game and leads the NBA with 4.5 made threes per night. He’s still the most dangerous shooter on the planet, and against a Jazz team that’s struggled defensively all season, this could be the perfect stage for some classic Steph fireworks.
Utah comes in at 15-32, near the bottom of the Western Conference, and owns the league’s worst defensive rating. Lauri Markkanen is expected to play, but the Jazz haven’t had much success slowing down elite perimeter threats. If Curry finds his rhythm early, it could be a long night for Utah.
Green’s return is just as crucial. His voice on defense, his ability to switch, communicate, and quarterback the unit-those things don’t show up in the box score, but they’re the difference between a cohesive defense and one that gets picked apart.
The Warriors are looking to even up their four-game road trip at 2-2 before heading back to the Bay. With their stars back in the lineup and a favorable matchup on deck, Wednesday’s game offers a chance to right the ship and build some momentum heading into the second half of the season.