Stephen Curry Ruled Out at Phoenix for Right Knee Management as Warriors Play Third Game in Four Days

Stephen Curry is officially out for Golden State's game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, October 24, 2026, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The Warriors listed the reason as right knee injury management. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST. The absence is a management decision on the second night of a back to back, not a new injury diagnosis.

Curry saw it coming on Friday night

Golden State lost 111-108 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, October 23, 2026, after giving up a 12 point lead in the final 3:47. Curry scored 24 points in that game, and he has 47 points through the first two games of the season. Asked after the Memphis loss whether he would play in Phoenix, Curry answered: "Probably not." Arizona Sports reported Warriors head coach Steve Kerr saying the team is handling Curry's workload this year, quoting Kerr, as reported by The Athletic's Nick Friedell: "We are purposefully ramping up Steph more slowly this year, this training camp, than he's used to." Curry missed 39 games last season with a nagging right knee injury.

A short handed Warriors roster

Curry is not the only absence. Al Horford is also out on Saturday for back injury management, with the Arizona Republic live file listing Horford and Brandin Podziemski under bilateral low back injury management, and Draymond Green as doubtful with bilateral low back soreness. Horford has averaged 1.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in two games this season, including three points and five rebounds against Memphis. Charles Bassey, who missed the first two games with right knee patellar tendinitis, is questionable. With Curry and Podziemski out, NBC Sports reported that De'Anthony Melton and Will Richard could start and see significant minutes for Golden State.

Phoenix has its own injury list

Saturday is Golden State's third game in four days, and the Warriors travel at 0-2, looking to avoid an 0-3 start. Phoenix has problems of its own. The Arizona Republic reported that Oso Ighodaro was ruled out with a right oblique strain, that Luke Kennard remains questionable with left knee tendinopathy, and that Mark Williams is expected to miss multiple months after tearing a labrum in his left shoulder in an offseason workout. Phoenix lost its opener by 41 points at Portland.

Why the timing matters for Golden State

The Warriors built this absence into a hard opening stretch. Saturday is the back end of a back to back and the third game in four days, and it comes straight after a one possession loss in Memphis in which Curry played and scored 24 points. Golden State is 0-2 and trying to avoid an 0-3 start, on the road, without its top scorer, its second ball handler in Podziemski, and its veteran center in Horford.