Kristaps Porziņģis poised to debut for Warriors as Steph Curry sits out against Celtics

Kristaps Porziņģis practiced fully on Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics as the Golden State Warriors manage the ongoing absence of Stephen Curry, who will miss his sixth consecutive game despite a clean MRI within the past 24 hours.

Kristaps Porziņģis practiced fully and may play limited minutes

Porziņģis, acquired just before the trade deadline and sidelined since Jan. 7, participated in Wednesday’s full practice and took part in a team scrimmage. Coaching staff described him as a full participant, and he expressed confidence about being ready to play on Thursday. The coaching staff intends to use him in short bursts if he suits up, with a target workload around 15 minutes as the team eases him into game action.

Curry’s MRI came back clean, but symptoms keep him out

The Warriors completed another MRI on Stephen Curry’s right knee within the past 24 hours; the scan showed no structural damage. Despite that result, Curry continues to experience lingering pain and will not play on Thursday, marking his sixth straight absence. He has not played since Jan. 30, and his missed time this season reaches 17 games in the 2025-26 campaign. Because of the games missed, he will fall short of the 65-game threshold required for postseason All-NBA consideration.

Implications, uncertainties and next steps

What this means in the near term:

• The Warriors will enter Thursday’s matchup without Curry on the floor and potentially with Porziņģis available for a controlled, limited role.
• Porziņģis’s debut would give the team a new frontcourt option after his acquisition ahead of the trade deadline; his minutes will be monitored closely given recent availability concerns.
• Curry’s All-NBA eligibility is effectively removed because he will not meet the 65-game minimum, narrowing individual postseason award considerations.

Key missing details:

• Exact timing for Curry’s return to full participation is not confirmed; the team is describing his status as day-to-day.
• Final clearance and the decision on whether Porziņģis will actually play Thursday remain unconfirmed up to game time.
• Longer-term load-management plans for both players have not been outlined in specific terms.

Realistic next-step scenarios and their triggers:

• Porziņģis plays limited minutes Thursday: triggers would be his full gameday clearance and medical sign-off after practice participation.
• Porziņģis is available but held out as a precaution: triggers would include any lingering soreness in pregame checks or a desire to protect his longer-term availability.
• Curry returns to practice before the next game but is not cleared to play: trigger would be improved symptom control in training without readiness for full practice intensity.
• Curry resumes in-game action when he can complete a full contact practice without pain: trigger would be sustained symptom resolution and medical clearance following monitored practice reps.

Why this matters: the immediate rotation and game plan for Thursday hinge on two interrelated roster updates. Porziņģis’s availability would alter the frontcourt rotation and offer a new offensive and defensive look in short stints. Curry’s continued absence not only affects the Warriors’ on-court performance against the Celtics but also removes him from All-NBA consideration for the season. How the staff balances minutes and recovery for both players will shape the team’s short-term competitiveness and its handling of newly acquired personnel.