With Curry sidelined and Butler questionable, the Warriors are taking no chances as they navigate a demanding early-season stretch.
The Golden State Warriors are taking a cautious approach as they face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night — and it starts with Steph Curry sitting out. After battling a worsening cold and showing visible signs of fatigue during Tuesday’s postgame press conference, Curry was officially ruled out by head coach Steve Kerr, who made the call before doctors could weigh in.
“He’s wiped out right now,” Kerr said bluntly after the team’s 118–107 win over Phoenix. “I don’t care what the doctors say, we got to get him some rest. I’ll make the decision right now — he’s not going to play tomorrow.”
Curry, who admitted his “tank was on E” in the second half against the Suns, had been pushing through symptoms for several days. His shooting numbers reflected the toll: a combined 16-for-42 (38.1%) from the field in recent games against Milwaukee and Indiana.
The Warriors (5–3) may also be without Jimmy Butler, who left Tuesday’s game with lower back soreness after playing just 14 minutes. If Butler joins Curry on the inactive list, it will mark the first time this season that Golden State is without two of its veteran stars.
The decision to rest Curry — and potentially Butler — comes amid a brutal early-season schedule. The Warriors played seven games in 12 days across five cities, a stretch that left their core trio of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green visibly fatigued.
“I could tell on the road trip that all three of those guys looked tired,” Kerr said. “Very unusual schedule to start the year. None of them had missed a game, and I think they just ran into a little bit of a wall.”
Following the loss to the Pacers, Curry called it a “look in the mirror” moment. Back in San Francisco, the team’s leadership — including Kerr, GM Mike Dunleavy, and director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini — met with the veteran trio to strategize around health and workload management.
Some takeaways from that meeting, according to Kerr:
- Not all back-to-backs are created equal. The Kings game, for example, doesn’t involve travel or time zone changes.
- Health status varies day to day, and decisions must reflect both data and player feedback.
- Three-games-in-four-nights can be tougher than standard back-to-backs.
- The NBA’s player participation policy limits flexibility, so the team must be selective about rest opportunities.
Kerr pointed to the Oct. 24 game in Portland as a lesson learned. After an emotional overtime win against Denver the night before, the veterans insisted on playing — but didn’t have the legs. The Blazers ran them out of the gym.
Wednesday’s game in Sacramento is a clearer call. Curry’s illness and fatigue make rest the obvious choice. And with Butler’s status uncertain, the Warriors will need to lean on their younger rotation.
Jonathan Kuminga, who was quiet against Phoenix with just seven shot attempts, is expected to take on a larger offensive role. Brandin Podziemski will get more on-ball reps, and Pat Spencer, who logged 11 solid minutes Tuesday, could see extended time. Will Richard and Gary Payton II, both DNPs against the Suns, may also be activated.
“We got a great challenge ahead to try to win a game short-handed,” Kerr said. “I’m excited for all the guys who are going to be playing tomorrow.”
The stakes are high. Golden State dropped winnable games to the Bucks and Pacers — both shorthanded — and in a Western Conference where playoff seeding often comes down to a single game, those losses loom large.
Last season, the Warriors went 7–5 without Curry. Replicating that record would be acceptable, but any improvement would be welcome. The team knows it must find ways to win even when its stars are sidelined.
Moses Moody, who scored 24 points off the bench against Phoenix, expressed confidence in the group’s depth.
“First time doing it this year, but I think we’ll be alright,” Moody said. “We play that way in practice a lot of time, in preseason, this group vs. that group. We’re used to playing with each other a little bit. I think we’ve got all the pieces we need.”
As the Warriors head into Sacramento short-handed, the spotlight shifts to their bench — and their ability to weather the early-season grind without burning out their stars.