Stephen Curry will not play for the Golden State Warriors against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 24, 2026. He has been ruled out with right knee pain linked to patellofemoral syndrome.The Warriors are being careful with his recovery. Tests showed no serious damage, but the team has decided not to rush him back during a busy stretch of the season.
Why is Stephen Curry not playing tonight vs the New Orleans Pelicans (February 24, 2026)
Stephen Curry has not played since late January. The issue is commonly called runner’s knee and usually causes pain around the kneecap.An MRI did not show any tears or major injury. Still, the discomfort and swelling have not fully gone away. He also missed the All-Star event and remains without a confirmed return date.The latest update came on February 24 at 1:00 PM ET, confirming he would not play in the 8:00 PM ET game in New Orleans.
Golden State Warriors dealing with several injuries (February 24, 2026)
The Golden State Warriors are not at full strength.Draymond Green is questionable with a lower back issue. Al Horford is also questionable with a toe problem. De’Anthony Melton and Nate Williams are listed as questionable as well.Kristaps Porzingis is out due to illness. Jimmy Butler is still out after ACL surgery. Seth Curry is unavailable with a sciatic nerve issue.With several players missing or uncertain, the Warriors will rely on Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, and Gui Santos.
New Orleans Pelicans also missing key players (February 24, 2026)
New Orleans Pelicans are also dealing with injuries.Trey Murphy III is out with a shoulder injury. Yves Missi will miss the game with a calf strain. Micah Peavy is out with a toe sprain. Hunter Dickinson and Trey Alexander are also unavailable.Zion Williamson has been playing regularly, but the Pelicans are 9-31 and have struggled to get results. Derik Queen and Jordan Hawkins have shown some promise in recent games.
What this means for the game
Stephen Curry’s absence takes away a major part of the Golden State Warriors’ offense. He has been averaging 27.2 points per game.Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield are expected to handle most of the ball. If Draymond Green plays, his role on defense will be important, especially against Zion Williamson.Also read: Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (February 24, 2026)The Golden State Warriors are still in the playoff race, but their focus remains on getting Stephen Curry fully fit before bringing him back.