Stephen Curry and Draymond Green ruled out of Warriors game at Minnesota

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will not play when the Golden State Warriors visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, sidelined by injuries that remove two of the franchise’s central pillars from the lineup. The team listed both veterans as out for the matchup, forcing Golden State to reshuffle its rotation on both ends of the floor.

The absences land as the Warriors navigate the grind of the regular season and manage workloads for core players. Curry remains the team’s primary offensive engine and spacing threat, while Green anchors much of Golden State’s defensive identity and facilitates ball movement. Without them, the Warriors face a significant short-term challenge in shot creation, defensive communication, and late-game organization.

What the injuries mean for Golden State’s approach

Curry’s value extends beyond scoring totals. His gravity dictates opponent coverages, opening lanes for cutters and creating cleaner looks for teammates on the perimeter. When he is unavailable, Golden State often has to rely more heavily on secondary playmaking and structured half-court actions rather than the free-flowing attacks that spring from Curry’s off-ball movement.

Green’s absence changes the Warriors’ defensive and transition profile. He is frequently the organizer of coverages, directing switches and rotations, and he is a key rebound-and-push initiator who accelerates pace without sacrificing decision-making. With Green ruled out, the Warriors may lean on alternative frontcourt combinations and place more responsibility on wings and guards to rebound, communicate, and initiate offense.

Expected rotation shifts and lineup impact

Golden State’s coaching staff is expected to distribute Curry’s ball-handling minutes among the available guards, with a heightened emphasis on protecting possessions and creating shots late in the clock. The Warriors typically compensate for missing star guards by increasing movement sets, using dribble handoffs, and deploying more off-ball screening to free up shooters and cutters.

Green’s minutes are likely to be absorbed through a mix of bigger lineups and small-ball units, depending on matchups and foul situations. The Warriors may ask their remaining frontcourt players to handle more rim protection duties and to be sharper with box-outs, while wings take on additional assignments against Minnesota’s primary scorers.

Key on-court responsibilities that shift without Curry and Green

With both players out, several core tasks fall to the rest of the roster. Golden State’s margin for error narrows, especially when it comes to turnover control and defensive rebounding, two areas where Green’s presence is often felt even when he is not scoring.

The most immediate responsibilities expected to shift include:

• Primary shot creation: more isolation and pick-and-roll reps for available guards and wings, plus increased reliance on bench scoring.
• Point-of-attack defense: greater pressure on perimeter defenders to contain dribble penetration without sending excessive help.
• Defensive communication: a louder, more organized back line to replace Green’s directing role on switches and rotations.
• Rebounding and physicality: improved box-outs and gang rebounding to limit second-chance points.
• Playmaking from the frontcourt: bigs and forwards asked to make quick reads from the elbow and on short rolls.

How the Timberwolves matchup changes

Minnesota’s defensive structure is built to pressure ball-handlers and contest shots at the rim, and the Timberwolves’ size can test opponents that are missing key creators. Without Curry, the Warriors’ spacing patterns and shot profile can shift, and Minnesota may be more willing to load up on Golden State’s remaining perimeter threats. That can place extra importance on crisp passing, timely cuts, and finishing at the rim.

On the other end, Green’s absence can complicate Golden State’s ability to toggle between switching and more traditional coverages. The Warriors may be forced to simplify schemes, protect against foul trouble in the frontcourt, and avoid extended stretches where Minnesota can hunt mismatches. The matchup also heightens the need for disciplined transition defense, particularly if the Warriors’ offensive rhythm is slower without Curry’s movement-based threat.

Short-term outlook and organizational context

Golden State has repeatedly emphasized managing health as a season-long priority, and holding out star players when injuries linger is a familiar approach across the league. Curry and Green have logged extensive postseason mileage over their careers, and the Warriors have historically balanced competitiveness with caution when dealing with ailments that could be aggravated by short rest.

The immediate impact, however, is practical: fewer proven options in high-leverage possessions and less continuity in the team’s preferred lineups. For a Warriors team that often depends on timing, spacing, and defensive cohesion, the absence of two long-tenured leaders can be felt most in the smaller moments—missed rotations, rushed shots, and possessions that end without a quality attempt.

Golden State is expected to provide further updates based on how Curry and Green respond to treatment and re-evaluation. Any timeline for return is subject to medical clearance and day-to-day status changes, depending on the nature of the injuries and the team’s schedule.

Disclaimer: This report is based on official team status updates and publicly available league information as of the latest update. Player availability can change close to tipoff.