Golden State Warriors enter their Christmas Day Western Conference showdown against the Dallas Mavericks with cautious optimism, as their injury report remains relatively short but impactful. Set to host Dallas on Thursday night, Warriors (15-15) are coming off a dominant home win over the Orlando Magic and will look to maintain momentum despite lingering health concerns.
With playoff positioning still fluid, Golden State’s injury situation—particularly involving veteran rotation players—could play a decisive role against a Mavericks team riding high after a statement win earlier this week.
Al Horford nears return for Golden State Warriors
The most notable update on Warriors’ injury report centers around Al Horford. The veteran center is listed as probable while dealing with right sciatica and is expected to be available after missing eight of Golden State’s last nine games.
Horford’s potential return would provide a significant boost to Golden State Warriors’ frontcourt depth and defensive stability. His absence has forced Golden State to rely heavily on smaller lineups and increased minutes for younger bigs. If cleared, Horford could immediately slot back into a rotational role, especially against a Dallas team that features strong interior scoring threats.
Seth Curry officially ruled out
While Horford trends in the right direction, Seth Curry remains unavailable. Golden State Warriors have ruled him out once again as he continues to recover from a thigh injury that has sidelined him since December 6.
Curry’s absence limits Golden State’s perimeter shooting depth off the bench, particularly in second-unit lineups where his spacing has proven valuable when healthy. With Curry still out, Warriors will need continued production from their primary scorers and supporting guards to offset the loss.
Warriors carry momentum into Christmas Day clash
Golden State enters the matchup on a positive note after a commanding win over Orlando earlier in the week. Stephen Curry led the charge with 26 points and six assists, while Jimmy Butler contributed 21 points and four assists, showcasing the balanced scoring attack Golden State Warriors hope to replicate against Dallas.
Despite their .500 record, Golden State has shown flashes of elite play at home, making health management a key priority as the season progresses.
With only two players appearing on the injury report, Warriors are in a stronger position health-wise compared to many teams at this stage of the season.