Stephen Curry To Play In NBA Play-In, Kerr Says

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Steve Kerr states the Golden State Warriors will not rest Stephen Curry for the NBA play-in tournament if medical staff clear the guard. Kerr stresses that any fully fit Curry will feature because the team values every playoff chance. The Warriors currently sit in the Western Conference play-in spots despite a difficult recent run.

The Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 137-131 in overtime on Monday, moving their record to 34-38. That victory ended a six-game road schedule and offered some relief after only two wins in their last 10 games. Golden State now returns to Chase Center to face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

Curry has not played since a 131-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons on January 30, when patella-femoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in a knee forced a spell on the sidelines. The four-time NBA champion is expected to rejoin full practice later this week, provided recovery continues as planned and testing remains positive.

Curry was originally scheduled to practise on Sunday, but the Warriors delayed the on-court session. Kerr explained that the decision formed part of the structured rehabilitation programme rather than a setback. "It's all just part of the rehab and all the different testing he does," Kerr said of that change. "It was just pushed back a day or two."

Golden State holds 10th place in the Western Conference. If the team remains there after the regular season, the Warriors will need to win two away play-in games to secure a playoff berth. Kerr maintains that the seeding will not affect plans for Curry, provided medical checks show full fitness.

When asked about Curry’s role in the play-in picture, Kerr was clear on the approach. "We're not chasing a play-in berth. We are squarely in the play-in no matter what we do. Bottom line, if Steph is healthy, he's going to play because that's what we're here for. The chance to get into the playoffs is a big deal for us, and a big deal for Steph. It's been a long haul. He's dying to get out there, for sure."

Golden State’s current situation entering the Nets game can be outlined as follows.

Golden State Warriors injury setback and play-in push

Monday’s win also brought a major concern, as Moses Moody suffered a non-contact left knee injury late in the game. Moody went down without contact and needed a stretcher to leave the floor. The incident came just as Golden State had hoped to regain a healthier rotation for the final stretch.

Team-mate Draymond Green described the impact of Moody’s performance and the distressing nature of the injury. "It's brutal, you know? We've been waiting to get back healthy," team-mate Draymond Green told NBA on ESPN Radio. "Moses is a guy who does everything right, and he changed the game for us tonight. Everything started going bad, he picked up his defensive intensity, knocked shots down, he changed the game for us. To see him go out like that was bad."

Despite the concerns around Moody and Curry’s recovery, the Warriors remain focused on the immediate schedule and the NBA play-in tournament. Kerr’s stance indicates any fully recovered Curry will return straight into competitive action, as Golden State aims to convert its current play-in position into a full playoff place.