The Golden State Warriors have faced a series of challenges early in the season, including injury woes, tough scheduling, and insufficient contributions from overburdened role players. Now, as the team prepares to face off against the Utah Jazz, an update on Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Jonathan Kuminga has surfaced.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Warriors have cleared Curry and Butler for tonight’s game. Both players were previously listed as questionable due to an ankle injury for Curry and an illness for Butler, which caused the pair to miss the team’s last game yesterday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kuminga was also upgraded to ‘probable’ after being listed as questionable with back soreness, which has now been identified more clearly as bilateral lower back soreness. However, given that the forward has been relegated to the bench even when healthy recently, so his playing time is up to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

Kuminga in particular was an unexpected scratch yesterday, especially with Kerr telling reporters before the game that he was going to be back in the ream’s rotation against the Thunder. Just a few hours before the game, Kuminga was added to the injury report, and Kerr was unclear if it would linger or not.

Kuminga’s recent involvement has been modest—just four appearances since early December, averaging 17 minutes per game—as Kerr continues to manage his role off the bench amid rotation tweaks and performance considerations.

Trade buzz is picking up, too, with reports linking Dallas to potential interest and Kuminga’s trade eligibility opening on January 15, a factor that could further shape his fluctuating playing time.

Tonight’s game also marks the return of veteran forward Draymond Green from ‘rest management,’ which sidelined him during the Thunder matchup, which the team lost by 37 points. After that game, Kerr told reporters:

“The schedule is what it is… When you have an older team, you have to navigate it as best you can. We’re trying to do that.”

Stephen Curry and Golden State Warriors are Looking Ahead to Utah Jazz Game After Injury Clarity

With Steve Kerr making it clear that the absences against Oklahoma City were less about standing and more about surviving through a brutal stretch, Stephen Curry, Butler, and Green all sitting out makes much more sense.

All of this falls under the same umbrella of managing an old roster across tough stretches, including their current one, which includes five games in seven days. With a long homestand ahead, the Jazz matchup presents an opportunity for the Warriors to get back on track.

Utah ranks poorly in paint defense, allowing opponents to finish at 67.9% at the rim, where they previously outscored Golden State 66-56; with Draymond Green’s return anchoring the interior, the Warriors can exploit this vulnerability for easy buckets.

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The context matters now, following yesterday’s blowout loss. With just 10 healthy players, minutes piled up quickly, and the game was decided quite early. Pat Spencer logged 31 minutes, Al Horford had to play an extended run, and many role players were stretched beyond their usual roles.

Golden State is unlikely to repeat this approach tonight, on the second night of the back-to-back, especially with Horford sitting.

Utah arrives rested but still missing pieces. The Jazz lost to the LA Clippers a few days ago and are now a bit more rested, but injuries remain a concern. Lauri Markkanen missed his first game of the season against them with a bruised knee, and Keyonte George and Ace Bailey were sidelined as well.

Their absence opened up playing opportunities for reserve guard Brice Sensabaugh, who has responded with increased offensive production.