Stephen Curry said he would face the Clippers after X-rays showed no new damage to the right thumb he aggravated in Portland.
The Warriors star left and returned during a 103-86 win over the Trail Blazers on 11 April 2025, then declared himself ready for a regular-season finale carrying major playoff implications.
Curry hurts thumb but returns to the game
Curry struck his thumb against Justin Minaya’s knee late in the first quarter. He stayed in long enough to create a Gary Payton II layup and score a floater, then went to the locker room with 1:59 left in the period.
He returned in the second quarter with his thumb and wrist taped. Curry finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes before sitting out the fourth with Golden State comfortably ahead.
Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 24 points and made all 11 of his free throws. The sequence of Curry’s injury and return is recorded in NBA.com’s play-by-play.
Negative X-rays ease concern
The Warriors said X-rays were negative. Curry described the problem as an aggravation of a thumb injury he had managed earlier in the season and acknowledged that it affected his shooting.
He still made clear that he intended to play two days later, saying he felt good enough for the 82nd game of the schedule.
Clippers finale carries a Game 7 feel
A Golden State win would secure the Western Conference’s sixth seed and a direct place in the playoffs. A defeat could send the Warriors into the play-in tournament.
Curry said the matchup “should be like a Game 7 kind of vibe.”
The Warriors remained under pressure because Minnesota also won that night, beating Brooklyn 117-91. Coach Steve Kerr said he had never seen a finish like it, with five teams still capable of ending the schedule level.
The Clippers had won all three earlier meetings, though each came before Golden State acquired Butler. Los Angeles also entered the finale with seeding at stake, setting up a high-pressure finish for both teams.
