Curry’s Status Looms Large as Warriors and Jazz Clash in San Francisco
As the Golden State Warriors get set to face the Utah Jazz, the biggest storyline heading into this matchup revolves around Stephen Curry and the cautious optimism surrounding his availability. After sitting out Friday night with a tweaked ankle, Curry has been listed as hopeful to return, and that alone has added a layer of intrigue to what already feels like an important early-January game for both teams.
Following the Warriors’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Steve Kerr shared that Curry’s ankle issue is being managed carefully. It was made clear that the injury is not considered serious, but caution was taken during the first game of the back-to-back. With that in mind, there is hope that Curry can suit up against Utah, especially with Golden State trying to stabilize its position in the Western Conference playoff picture. If Curry is cleared to play, his presence is expected to immediately change the flow and tempo of the game, something the Warriors rely on heavily.
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The Warriors come into this contest sitting eighth in the West with an 18–17 record, having dropped their first game of 2026. While that loss stung, there has been some positive news on the roster front. Draymond Green has been confirmed to play, and other core pieces are trending in the right direction. Jimmy Butler, who missed time due to illness, is expected to be available, and Jonathan Kuminga is also set to return. The hope has been expressed by Kerr that the core group can finally be on the floor together again, which has been a challenge at various points this season.
On the other side, the Utah Jazz arrive in San Francisco searching for their first win of the new year. Utah has dropped two straight games and currently sits 12th in the conference at 12–21. Despite the recent struggles, there is still belief around this young roster. Key players like Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George are back in the lineup, and the Jazz are looking to build momentum during this West Coast road trip.
This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season. The first matchup, played back in late November, was controlled by Golden State, who walked away with a convincing win at home. Utah will be eager to show progress since then, while the Warriors will be aiming to protect their home floor once again.
If Curry is unable to go, increased responsibility is expected to fall on players like Brandin Podziemski, who has already shown he can handle expanded minutes. Either way, the game sets up as a meaningful test for both teams, with injuries, standings, and early-season momentum all colliding under the bright lights at Chase Center.
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