Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry missed Wednesday night’s Western Conference matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to pain in both knees. An MRI conducted on Tuesday revealed no structural damage, but Curry continues to experience discomfort around his kneecaps. During Monday’s game—a 128-120 loss to the Brooklyn Nets—Curry was seen with large ice packs on his knees during bench breaks. That game marked the Warriors’ fourth in a six-day stretch.
At 36 years old and in his 16th NBA season, Curry has been averaging 29.7 minutes per game over the first 14 games of the season. This marks the fourth game he has missed so far. Despite his knee issues, Curry is posting solid numbers, averaging 22.4 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.4 rebounds for the Warriors, who currently hold a 12-5 record.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated that the decision to rest Curry was made after consulting Rick Celebrini, the team’s Director of Sports Medicine and Performance. Celebrini recommended giving Curry time off to recover, with the goal of having him ready for Golden State’s upcoming road trip, which begins Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.
Kerr explained that Curry’s knee pain had been escalating over the past week, making the decision to rest him unsurprising. Although the coach did not confirm who would replace Curry in the starting lineup, he emphasized the need for the entire team to step up and adapt. Kerr expressed optimism about the opportunity for other players to contribute in Curry’s absence.
