{"id":700623,"date":"2026-04-06T02:07:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T02:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/700623\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T02:07:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T02:07:23","slug":"warriors-announce-unexpected-starting-lineup-decision-amid-stephen-curry-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/700623\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors Announce Unexpected Starting Lineup Decision Amid Stephen Curry Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Steph\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he had an assist to Gary Payton II against the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. <\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors<\/a> are playing the Houston Rockets<\/a> on Sunday, April 5, in a game that is marked by the injury return of NBA superstar Stephen Curry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday against the Rockets has been the expected return date<\/a> of Curry for over the past week, and while he remained questionable on the Warriors\u2019 injury report just an hour before the game, the franchise centerpiece is set to get back on the court<\/a> after more than two months out with a knee injury.<\/p>\n

Before the game, Golden State announced its starting lineup<\/a> and final injury report<\/a> against Houston, in a game that could bring some hope to the Bay Area team, whose season has been derailed by injuries and health concerns.<\/p>\n

Warriors Starting Lineup Amid Steph Curry Injury Return\"Stephen<\/p>\n

GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 APRIL 01: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before their game against the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> at Chase Center on April 01, 2026 in San Francisco, California.<\/p>\n

The Warriors\u2019 starting lineup was both announced by the team<\/a> on social media and confirmed on NBA<\/a>.com.<\/p>\n

Brandin Podziemski<\/a>, De\u2019Anthony Melton<\/a>, Draymond Green<\/a>, Gui Santos,<\/a> and Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> were all named starters by head coach Steve Kerr before the game against the Rockets.<\/p>\n

This is a lineup that the Warriors have rarely used this season. The most surprising news is that Curry is not in the starting lineup. However, he will reportedly face a minute restriction<\/a> for the game, so Golden State likely won\u2019t want to rush him back in his return.<\/p>\n

Regardless, Podziemski, Melton, and Santos have both seen greater roles for Golden State over the past few weeks as they face a smaller rotation due to the loaded injury report.<\/p>\n

The Warriors vs. Rockets game, in which Curry is making his injury return, will be key in seeing how he fits with the players Kerr has been giving more opportunities to over the past few weeks and months.<\/p>\n

Warriors Injury Report\"Steph<\/p>\n

GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA \u2013 MARCH 7: Al Horford #20 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball while being defended by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> during the first half at Paycom Center on March 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

Despite the mass amount of reporting indicating Curry would return on Sunday, he was still listed as questionable on the Warriors\u2019 injury report<\/a> just an hour before the game.<\/p>\n

However, it was announced<\/a> by the team and Kerr that the star is confirmed as available for the game, now officially taken off Golden State\u2019s injury report.<\/p>\n

Despite that, just getting Curry back doesn\u2019t mean the Warriors are without any injuries.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Butler<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Moses Moody<\/a>\u00a0are both out with season-ending knee injuries.<\/p>\n

Additionally, both Al Horford<\/a> and Quinten Post<\/a> will be sidelined against the Rockets on Sunday. Each big man has missed a few games, Horford more than Post, but the Warriors announced new injury updates on both over the weekend.<\/p>\n

Horford is making \u2018good progress\u2019 and set to be re-evaluated next week, and Post in a similar boat, as he will \u201ccontinue with daily rehabilitation and light on-court workouts and will be re-evaluated again next week,\u201d the team wrote in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n

Al Horford & Quinten Post injury updates: <\/p>\n

LJ Cyer<\/a> is also out with an illness. Seth Curry<\/a> is available,<\/a> as he was questionable for most of the day.<\/p>\n

The Warriors are 36-41 and the tenth seed in the West<\/a>, set for another year in the Play-In Tournament. However, as Kerr has maintained amid Curry\u2019s injury recovery, he believes they have a chance to make a run with the franchise star back.<\/p>\n

Golden State will get their first look at Curry after more than two months out with a knee injury Sunday against Houston.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Warriors\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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