Overview
- Stephen Curry, who had missed 27 games, returned Sunday against the Rockets and scored 29 points in 25 minutes off the bench under a minutes limit.
- He earned clearance after live 5-on-5 scrimmages during the week and entered the game listed as questionable as the team announced a starting lineup without him.
- The issue was patellofemoral pain syndrome and a bone bruise in his right knee, a pain condition under the kneecap that lacks a set timeline and led to setbacks.
- Golden State is 36-41 and 10th in the West, which means it must win two road play-in games to secure a playoff spot.
- Coaches and teammates said his presence boosts spacing and confidence, and the staff plans close monitoring of his knee and minutes through the remaining regular-season games.