Golden State Warriors Shock NBA with Blockbuster Trade—How the New Lineup Alters the 2026 Title Race

The Golden State Warriors entered the All-Star break on an emotional roller-coaster: they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-113 thanks to Gui Santos’ clutch lay-up with 19 seconds left, yet moments earlier learned that franchise icon Stephen Curry will skip Sunday’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles to rest a lingering right-knee injury. Curry’s patellofemoral pain syndrome has already cost him four straight games, and head coach Steve Kerr confirmed the two-time MVP will also miss Wednesday’s home date with San Antonio before targeting a Feb. 19 return against Boston. The Warriors are 6-9 this season without Curry, so extending his rehab through the mid-season hiatus could determine whether Golden State can chase a 12th consecutive playoff berth. While Curry heals, Kerr has unleashed his bench. Against Memphis, seven Warriors hit double figures, led by Pat Spencer’s 17 points and seven assists. Rookie swingman Brandin Podziemski, veteran big man Al Horford and the hero Santos each scored 16, and Moses Moody added 15. The balanced burst erased a 65-57 halftime deficit and preserved Golden State’s perfect 8-0 home mark versus the Grizzlies since 2022. Depth is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. All-Star guard Jimmy Butler III underwent season-ending ACL surgery last month, leaving Curry’s supporting cast to shoulder the offense in the Western Conference dogfight. Draymond Green, who drilled four threes Monday and passed Latrell Sprewell for 14th on the franchise scoring list, said post-game that the next-man-up mentality “isn’t a slogan, it’s survival.” The timing of Curry’s setback would normally overshadow trade-deadline chatter, but league sources indicate Golden State is leaning on internal growth after converting two-way standout Pat Spencer to a standard deal earlier this week. Spencer’s playmaking unlocked a small-ball lineup featuring Horford at center, allowing Kerr to mimic the iconic “Lineup of Death” pace even without Curry’s shooting gravity. Still, the Warriors’ first-half inconsistencies stemmed largely from perimeter defense; opponents’ reserves poured in a season-high 68 bench points Monday. Kerr attributed the leaks to communication breakdowns that intensive film study will address during the break. Expect heightened pressure on Moody and Podziemski to contain elite wings as February’s schedule stiffens with showdowns against Boston, Denver and red-hot Oklahoma City. From an SEO standpoint, fans crave three answers: When will Stephen Curry return? Can the Golden State Warriors survive without him? And how will Curry’s absence impact the NBA All-Star Game? For now, the club believes extra rest will help the four-time champion reclaim his usual explosion for the stretch run. Meanwhile, Santos, Spencer and company are turning Chase Center into a proving ground—and keeping playoff hopes alive in the crowded Western Conference.