Steph Curry exits Warriors loss to Pistons with knee soreness

Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News on Jan 31, 2026

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SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry went back to the locker room in the second half of the Golden State Warriors’ 131-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons and did not return to the floor on Friday night at Chase Center.

Late in the third quarter, shortly after converting on a twisting and-1 layup, Curry limped back to the Warriors locker room at the 4:04 mark of the period. The Warriors trailed 108-95 going into the fourth quarter.

Deep reserve Pat Spencer checked in to start the fourth quarter, playing the minutes Curry usually does in that spot. The Warriors later ruled the superstar out with right knee soreness.

Curry is averaging 27.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while recently moving into 19th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after scoring his 26,398th point against the Jazz on Wednesday.

With 4.5 makes per game, Curry leads the NBA in 3-pointers despite being a little more than a month away from turning 38. He was also recently voted an All-Star game starter in his 12th appearance in the exhibition, which will take place in Inglewood in February.

He has missed 11 games this season, including Monday’s matchup in Minnesota with inflammation of that same right knee.

In 25 minutes played on Friday, Curry scored 23 points and made 4 of 10 3-pointers. Without their leader on the floor, Golden State found a way to remain competitive with the top team in the Eastern Conference.

But without Curry warping the defense, the Warriors just did not have the juice to pull out the improbable comeback.

Gui Santos and De’Athony Melton combined to score 34 points off the bench, while Draymond Green poured in 15 and dished out seven assists. Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham quarterbacked the Pistons offense expertly, scoring 29 and passing out 11 assists, many of those going to Jalen Duren, who scored 21 and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Steph Curry will have several days to rest his sore knee. The Warriors do not play again until Tuesday, when they play Philadelphia in the last game before the trade deadline.