The Golden State Warriors find themselves in somewhat of a tricky situation. Despite an impressive 16-4 record with Jimmy Butler in the lineup, they have started their current six-game road trip on a rough note. Since their franchise player missed the first two games due to a pelvic contusion, the Warriors ended up dropping both. Though Steph Curry’s return sparked hope of standing a chance for the playoffs, securing a much-needed win, the road ahead looks daunting. As of now, it’s almost as if they’re heading toward grave territory.

With their matchup against the Heat, the Warriors have now become one of the two teams that have finished playing the opposite conference, the other being the Houston Rockets. All of their remaining nine games are against the West, and this is where they will face their hardest battles.

Five of those nine games are against top-eight teams, making every game a potential playoff decider. Adding to the drama, the Warriors will face the very team they’re tied with—the Clippers—in their last game of the season, which could turn into a do-or-die showdown. The odds aren’t in Golden State’s favor, as the Warriors struggled offensively against the Clippers earlier this season, managing only 97 points per 100 possessions—their worst mark against any opponent this year.

Amid all this chaos, the Warriors are facing yet another issue with injuries, as the availability of Steph Curry and another key player—Gary Payton II remains uncertain.

Golden State Warriors Injury Report—Will Steph Curry Play Tonight vs Spurs

Steph Curry wasted no time reminding everyone who he is. In his return, he dropped 23 points and dished out 6 assists—like he never missed a beat. The best news for the Warriors? This wasn’t a repeat of the 2020-21 season, where Curry suffered a hairline fracture. This time, he bounced back without a hitch.

Head coach Steve Kerr was more than pleased with what he saw. “I thought he looked great,” Kerr said. “He was moving really well and took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six 3s, so the numbers don’t look great, but he looked like himself. And I think the week off did him a lot of good.”

A little rest, a little recovery, and just like that—Curry is back doing what he does best.

Despite his return, Curry is listed as probable for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, Gary Payton II remains sidelined for the upcoming matchup. On the interview after Warriors win over Pelicans, Kerr said, “We’re clearly trying to get our rhythm back as a group, Tonight will lead to that.” As he said, the main starters of the Golden State Warriors are healthy and Kerr’s 12-man rotation strategy covering up for Gary Payton II will be doable.

Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs Predicted Staring Lineup and Depth Chart

With Steph Curry back in action, the Warriors finally have their core group (mostly) intact and ready to roll. That alone is a huge sigh of relief for Steve Kerr, even though Gary Payton II remains sidelined for tonight’s game.

Still, having most of his key players available gives Kerr some much-needed flexibility. After juggling lineups all season, he finally has a bit more breathing room to manage the rotation—and that could make all the difference as the Warriors push forward.

So, here’s who we think Kerr might lean on for tonight’s matchup against the Spurs:

The Spurs are in a tough spot heading into tonight’s matchup against the Warriors, missing both Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. That’s a major blow, especially against a Golden State squad loaded with star power.

On paper, the Warriors—led by Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and even Jimmy Butler—should have the upper hand. But this is the NBA, where the unexpected is always on the table. Undermanned or not, the Spurs will be looking to shake things up and pull off a surprise.