The Golden State Warriors head into Saturday night’s clash against the Utah Jazz with a sense of anticipation and relief, as stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler have both been cleared to play following recent injury and illness concerns. After a rough 131–94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder just a night earlier, the Warriors (18–17) look to rebound against a struggling Jazz squad (12–21) at the Chase Center, with tip-off set for 10:00 p.m. ET.
The Warriors’ lineup had been in serious flux. On January 2, Curry, Butler, and Jonathan Kuminga were all sidelined—Curry nursing a left ankle sprain, Butler down with illness, and Kuminga dealing with persistent back soreness. That trio’s absence was felt keenly as Golden State was routed by Oklahoma City, dropping them to a precarious one game above .500. But by the evening of January 3, the team had received a much-needed boost: both Curry and Butler were officially upgraded to available, and Kuminga was upgraded from questionable to available as well. Draymond Green, who had been rested against the Thunder, was also set to return.
Golden State’s health woes have been a recurring theme this season, and the numbers paint a stark picture. The Warriors are just 4–6 without Curry and 1–4 without Butler, underscoring just how crucial the two veterans are to the team’s fortunes. Curry, the two-time MVP, is having another stellar campaign—averaging 28.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. Butler, who joined the Warriors this season, has been equally impactful, putting up 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest, while shooting an efficient 51.6% from the field and a scorching 41.0% from deep.
Butler’s recent stretch has been especially notable. Over his last 10 outings, he’s averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steals in 33.2 minutes per game. He’s been a model of consistency, scoring at least 14 points in each of the last 18 games he’s finished. However, big scoring nights have been rare—just three 30-point games all season and only one game with more than 25 points since mid-November. With the Jazz ranking dead last in defensive rating, as per Cleaning the Glass, Saturday’s matchup could be the perfect opportunity for Butler to break out offensively.
The return of Jonathan Kuminga, who hadn’t played since December 18 due to back soreness, adds another dimension to the Warriors’ rotation. Kuminga is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the 2025–26 season, and his athleticism and energy have been sorely missed. Leading up to the Thunder game, Kuminga had received nine DNPs in ten games, fueling speculation about his role and future with the team. Head coach Steve Kerr, when pressed about Kuminga’s status after Friday’s loss, admitted, “The timing of the injury was just before the game. I don’t know if it could linger.” That uncertainty has hovered over the Warriors’ bench, but with Kuminga now available, Kerr has more options as he looks to stabilize a rotation that’s been battered by injuries.
Not all the news is positive for Golden State, though. Al Horford (left toe injury management) and Seth Curry (left sciatic nerve irritation) remain out for Saturday’s contest. Their absence trims the Warriors’ depth, but the return of the core trio is expected to provide a significant lift.
On the Jazz side, Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen are both available, giving Utah some offensive firepower. However, the Jazz are missing Ace Bailey, Jusuf Nurkic, and Georges Niang. George, in particular, has been on a tear of late, scoring at least 30 points in five of his last nine games and averaging 24.6 points per game—good for 19th in the NBA. In the teams’ previous meeting this season, Curry poured in 31 points on 12-of-24 shooting as the Warriors cruised to a 134–117 victory, while George nearly matched him with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting. With both players in top form, tonight’s matchup could turn into an electrifying shootout.
“Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler have both been cleared to return tonight vs Jazz,” reported Anthony Slater of HoopsHype on January 3, confirming the Warriors’ optimism. The news was echoed across multiple outlets, with ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel noting the importance of their availability as Golden State seeks to “respond after Friday’s blowout loss.”
The Warriors’ injury saga hasn’t just affected the stars. The return of Butler to the starting lineup is likely to push Moses Moody or Gui Santos back to bench roles. Both have filled in admirably during the team’s shorthanded stretches, but there’s no substitute for the impact of a healthy Butler. “Butler was unable to play in the front end of the Warriors’ back-to-back set Friday against the Thunder due to an illness. The veteran forward has recovered enough to play Saturday, and his return means Moses Moody or Gui Santos will likely revert to a bench role against Utah,” reported CBS Sports and Rotowire in near-identical updates.
For head coach Steve Kerr, managing minutes and rotations has been a nightly puzzle. The Warriors’ up-and-down form reflects the challenges of maintaining chemistry and rhythm amid constant lineup changes. The hope is that with Curry, Butler, Kuminga, and Green all available, the team can finally build some momentum as the season approaches its halfway mark.
Looking ahead, the stakes are rising for Golden State. With a record hovering just above .500 and the Western Conference as competitive as ever, every game counts. The Jazz, despite their poor defensive numbers, have shown they can put up points in bunches—especially with George heating up. The Warriors, meanwhile, need their stars to shine and their supporting cast to step up if they’re to climb the standings.
As the Warriors prepare to take the court against Utah, all eyes will be on the health and performance of Curry, Butler, and Kuminga. Will their return spark a turnaround, or will the team’s injury woes continue to cast a shadow? The answer is unfolding tonight at the Chase Center, with the Warriors eager to seize a much-needed win and set the tone for the crucial weeks ahead.