Curry Cleared to Return as Warriors Visit Nuggets Looking for First Win

Stephen Curry is cleared to return for the Golden State Warriors on Monday, October 26, 2026, when Golden State visits the Denver Nuggets. Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green and Al Horford are not on the Warriors official injury report for the game, and all four are available to play.

The clearance was first reported late on Sunday by Anthony Slater, and it was carried in the Reuters game preview via Field Level Media, by Hoops Rumors citing Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports, and by Heavy citing the Warriors official injury report directly. Gui Santos is questionable for Golden State with left knee soreness.

A return after the Phoenix loss

Golden State chose to sit Curry, Green and Podziemski at Phoenix on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The Warriors lost that game 131-122 to the Phoenix Suns and dropped to 0-3 to start the season, playing without seven players in the second game of a back to back.

The three losses were 127-105 to the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-108 to the Memphis Grizzlies and 131-122 at Phoenix. Golden State has not started a season 0-4 since Curry was playing for Davidson University, and its 0-3 start is its first since the 2007-08 season, when it opened 0-6.

Curry is being managed cautiously because of a right knee problem linked to his patellofemoral pain syndrome diagnosis last season. He was ruled out at Phoenix for right knee management. Podziemski has a lower back injury that has kept him out of two of the first three games of the season, after he played in all 82 games last season.

Green is 36 years old, and Horford is one of only two players in the league aged 40 or older. The Warriors are giving both players extra rest through the season, which is part of why the Phoenix absence was planned rather than a new injury for either veteran.

Lendeborg steps up in the losses

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is averaging 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds for Golden State. He scored a team high 26 points in the loss to Phoenix.

Head coach Steve Kerr praised the rookie in comments carried by Reuters. Kerr said of Lendeborg: "He's got to figure that out, and he will because he has this amazing skill set." Kerr also said: "I love the young guy. I mean, he's really talented. I love his competitiveness."

Denver waits with its own injury list

Denver won its home opener in overtime on Saturday against New Orleans, 141-135. The Nuggets will likely be without Cameron Johnson again after he sprained his right ankle in Thursday's loss at Oklahoma City. Rookie Alpha Diallo also missed Saturday with a wrist injury, and Johnson and Diallo are listed as doubtful for Monday in the Reuters preview.

For Golden State, the return of four regulars changes a short handed rotation back toward its normal shape for a road game against a Denver team that just won in overtime. The Warriors still need a first win, and they get their leading players back for the attempt on Monday night in Denver.