Warriors Aim for Top-6 Playoff Seed Despite Butler Injury

Stephen Curry sets goal to avoid play-in tournament after All-Star break

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Golden State Warriors are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 29-26 record, but Stephen Curry is still hoping the team can secure a top-6 playoff seed despite the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler. The Warriors have a tough remaining schedule, including 14 games against the NBA's top contenders, but they are optimistic that the return of Kristaps Porzingis and the emergence of Gui Santos can help offset Butler's absence.

Why it matters

The Warriors' playoff positioning is crucial, as they aim to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a guaranteed spot in the first round. Their ability to overcome Butler's injury and climb the standings could determine how far they advance in the postseason.

The details

The Warriors have 10 remaining games against teams with losing records, which they should be able to handle. However, they also have 14 games left against the NBA's top contenders, including the Celtics, Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers, and Timberwolves. Without Butler, the Warriors will be underdogs in most of these matchups. But they are hoping that the return of Kristaps Porzingis and the continued emergence of Gui Santos can help offset Butler's absence.

  • The Warriors are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 29-26 record.
  • Stephen Curry told reporters that the team's goal is to "get out of the play-in, battle, secure ourselves into a playoff series" if they can be healthy by March and April.

The players

Stephen Curry

The star point guard for the Golden State Warriors who is leading the team's push for a top-6 playoff seed.

Jimmy Butler

The Warriors' star forward who is out for the season with an injury.

Kristaps Porzingis

The veteran big man who the Warriors are hoping can help offset Butler's absence when he returns from injury.

Gui Santos

The young forward who has emerged as a key contributor for the Warriors, averaging 14.7 points on 63.1% shooting over his last 7 games.

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What they’re saying

“If we can be healthy come March and April, hopefully get out of the play-in, battle, secure ourselves into a playoff series—and if not, find our way into one—we feel like we're still a dangerous team.”

— Stephen Curry (SI.com)

What’s next

The Warriors will need to continue to improve their net rating without Jimmy Butler in order to finish the season strong and secure a top-6 playoff seed. Their ability to overcome Butler's absence and make a deep playoff run will be a key storyline to follow in the coming months.

The takeaway

Despite the loss of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors remain optimistic that they can secure a top-6 playoff seed and avoid the play-in tournament. Their ability to overcome adversity and get key contributions from players like Kristaps Porzingis and Gui Santos will be crucial in determining how far they can go in the postseason.