Warriors' Woes Deepen as Curry Exits with Knee Soreness
Another night, another setback for the Warriors - and this one centers around the heartbeat of the franchise.
Stephen Curry was sidelined in the second half of Golden State’s 131-124 loss to the Pistons after aggravating soreness in his right knee, an issue that’s been lingering for more than a week. The injury flared up late in the third quarter when Curry took contact on a layup, stumbled to the floor, and came up clearly uncomfortable. He grimaced, limped back up the court, and just like that - his night was over.
Curry met briefly with trainers before heading to the locker room. He was later spotted icing the knee and noticeably favoring the leg as he left the arena. He didn’t speak to the media postgame.
This wasn’t a surprise out of nowhere. The knee had already been a concern.
Six days earlier, Curry appeared on the injury report with swelling and discomfort in the same knee - officially diagnosed as patellofemoral inflammation - after a solo workout in Minneapolis. He played through it against the Timberwolves on Sunday, sat out the second game of the back-to-back, then returned for matchups in Utah and against Detroit.
Despite the discomfort, Curry still poured in 23 points in just 25 minutes before exiting. But make no mistake - his health is the single biggest swing factor for this team. With the trade deadline looming and Golden State’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, everything hinges on No. 30 being upright and available.
Head coach Steve Kerr tried to downplay the severity.
“I think he’s OK,” Kerr said. “I don’t think it’s anything major. It’s been nagging him recently.”
Still, “nagging” is enough to raise alarms. The Warriors don’t have the margin for error they once did. And if Curry’s knee doesn’t cooperate, their window to make a run this season might close before it ever really opened.
Sabonis Steady Amid Trade Rumors
Domantas Sabonis has been here before. The trade deadline buzz, the rumors, the speculation - it’s not new to him. But life is different now, and so is his perspective.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Sabonis said this week. “You just try to ignore it. I’m here right now, and we’re just trying to go out there and play as well as we can.”
That mindset has served him well, even as his name continues to swirl in deadline chatter. But Sabonis admitted this year hits a little differently. He’s married now, a father of three, with roots in Northern California - including a home in Napa Valley and his own wine brand.
“It’s definitely different this time,” he said. “I’ve got kids, so you’ve got to think about that.
But on the court it’s the same thing. I forget everything once I’m in between those lines and the goal is just to help your team win.”
That’s the kind of veteran presence the Kings have leaned on as they weigh their next move. Sabonis remains a central figure in Sacramento’s plans, but as the deadline approaches, nothing is off the table. Whether the front office decides to shake things up or stay the course, Sabonis is staying locked in - one game at a time.
Suns Staying the Course as Deadline Nears
While other teams are bracing for roster shakeups, the Suns are taking a different approach. With the trade deadline less than a week away, Phoenix is signaling it’s not looking to make any major moves - and that’s by design.
First-year head coach Jordan Ott spoke confidently about the group’s chemistry and internal growth, emphasizing that the Suns are more focused on continuity than chaos.
“We have people in place in leadership to take care of a lot of that stuff,” Ott said. “We know it’s right around the corner, but we love our group. We love our group.”
That belief is bolstered by improving health. Jalen Green returned to the lineup Friday against the Cavaliers after missing three games with hamstring tightness - a key piece for a team that’s still building rhythm.
“Our group is growing internally,” Ott added. “Our big piece we’re going to get back is Jalen Green, and that’s what we’re excited about.”
For Phoenix, this isn’t about chasing headlines - it’s about building something sustainable. And as long as the core stays healthy and connected, the Suns seem content to let the rest of the league make the noise.