Stephen Curry expected to play Wednesday against the Lakers after injury scare

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball during their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

During the Golden State Warriors’ open practice on Sunday afternoon, Stephen Curry hobbled off the floor and into the locker room, which sparked some uncertainty for his status in Golden State’s season opener Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Steph Curry limps off the court at open practice and he just went back to the locker room @NBCSWarriors

Real quiet in here now pic.twitter.com/cLEFcOwTGt

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) October 18, 2026

Although the scene itself suggested Curry might’ve injured the same knee that kept him out for roughly a third of the 2025-26 season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr clarified Curry tweaked his ankle and is “fine.”

Steve Kerr said he talked to Steph after practice and said “he’s fine.”
Kerr said it was an ankle tweak, not the knee. pic.twitter.com/i0UPFZdYsw

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) October 18, 2026

Kerr said Curry practiced Monday morning and is expected to play Wednesday against the Lakers.

Steve Kerr told reporters that Steph Curry went through practice this morning and the Warriors expect him to play in the opener in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.l vs Lakers.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 19, 2026

While Curry is not the MVP supernova of a decade ago, he remains a surefire All-NBA-caliber player. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 39.3% beyond the arc and 58.4% on 2-pointers, the latter of which was the third-highest mark of his career. He’s still the league’s preeminent shooter whose vast long-range talents, movement, quick decision-making and motor constantly stress defenses like nobody else around the league can.

Assuming he plays, his presence will certainly test a revamped Lakers defense, with the likes of Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams all presumably getting chances to try and slow Curry down.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Lakers dole out all their defensive assignments Wednesday night. The Warriors are not a big team but the forward tandem of Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg will still be beefier than whoever Los Angeles starts alongside Grimes. I imagine Al Horford starts at center but the Lakers may prefer to keep Walker Kessler inside as much as possible and let him roam off of Green, though that comes with risks, given Curry and Green’s two-man connection.

Nonetheless, the Warriors should have their own challenges figuring out how to adequately slow both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, so the entire chess match between Kerr and JJ Redick could be quite fascinating throughout Wednesday’s matchup. And the NBA is always more fun when Curry is healthy doing his preposterous Curry things, so it’s nice to hear he should be available, even if it makes the Lakers’ lives harder.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.