Warriors' Steph Curry day-to-day with sore knee

Curry avoided major damage, diagnosed with patellofemoral syndrome

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry left Friday's game against the Pistons in the third quarter due to a sore right knee. Head coach Steve Kerr said Curry underwent an MRI and his official diagnosis is patellofemoral syndrome, commonly known as 'runner's knee'. Curry is considered day-to-day, and the team will have to monitor his workload before the All-Star break to determine if he can play his usual minutes or if he needs to miss some games.

Why it matters

Curry's health is crucial for the Warriors, who are already lacking significant scoring punch on the perimeter with the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga's ongoing knee issues. The Warriors will have to carefully manage Curry's minutes to keep him healthy for the playoffs.

The details

Late in the third quarter against the Pistons, Curry finished an and-1 layup over Ausar Thompson but then slowly limped back to the locker room. After the game, Curry was seen walking around the locker room with a limp but had no ice or brace on his right knee. Curry has dealt with injuries this season, missing 11 games including Monday's matchup in Minnesota with inflammation of that same right knee.

  • Curry left the game against the Pistons in the third quarter on January 31, 2026.
  • Curry underwent an MRI on February 1, 2026.

The players

Steph Curry

The Golden State Warriors' best player and a 12-time NBA All-Star.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Jimmy Butler

A player for the Golden State Warriors who was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Jonathan Kuminga

A player for the Golden State Warriors who has been unable to play due to a sore knee.

Ausar Thompson

A player for the Detroit Pistons who Curry finished an and-1 layup over before leaving the game.

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What they’re saying

“He's day to day. It will be something we really have to monitor, especially before the All-Star break, where we've got to see if he can take on his usual workload, or does he have to miss a game here or there.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (eastbaytimes.com)

What’s next

The Warriors will have to balance chasing wins with managing Curry's health before the All-Star break, and determine if he can play his usual minutes or if he needs to miss some games.

The takeaway

Curry's health is critical for the Warriors, who are already dealing with key injuries to other players. The team will need to carefully monitor Curry's recovery and workload to ensure he is healthy for the playoffs.