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Stephen Curry set to return for Warriors against Rockets after two-month absence with knee injury

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Stephen Curry set to return for Warriors against Rockets after two-month absence with knee injury
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Stephen Curry set to return for Warriors against Rockets after two-month absence with knee injury

2026-04-05 07:03 Last Updated At:07:10

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry faced what he called “some long, dark days” of rehab on his troublesome right knee over the past two months. The recovery took far longer than he'd ever imagined.

Now, the two-time MVP is set to return when the Golden State Warriors host Houston on Sunday night after missing 27 consecutive games — it would be his first game since Jan. 30 against Detroit.

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Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, talks with San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, talks with San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, watches from the bench with assistant coaches Kris Weems, middle, and Jerry Stackhouse during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, watches from the bench with assistant coaches Kris Weems, middle, and Jerry Stackhouse during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

And the Warriors know everyone at Chase Center will be thrilled. Curry warmed up on the floor Wednesday and his routine was a huge hit.

"We want to bring joy to this building, we want to bring joy to our fans, that's what this is about. It's about winning, yes, but it's about people really enjoying coming to the building and watching our team play. It's the most important thing,” coach Steve Kerr said. “... Frankly, Steph is responsible for more of that than anyone. One of the greatest players of all time but he's the greatest face of a franchise in any sport that I've ever seen."

Curry scrimmaged several times this past week to test his injured right knee, and he never thought of shutting it down for the rest of the season because he has remained determined to get on the floor as the Warriors head for the play-in tournament hoping to make a surprise run.

“I’m just happy to have a little clarity and a little window to get back out there and try to get to the level I was playing at and finish the year strong," Curry said after practice Saturday. "A lot of hours go into it so it's just a matter of reminding yourself you're working toward getting back as much as you can."

He will be listed as questionable on the injury report. Curry said dealing with the pain is part of his “new normal” and the offseason will require a significant reset.

The 38-year-old Curry initially expected to be playing right after the All-Star break, but the recovery was prolonged by some difficult moments when he would feel good, push hard then pay for it the following day.

“So there was always a point where I would do all these tests off the court and do stuff to make sure it makes sense to get out on the floor and I’d feel great,” he said, “and then you start running and do your normal workout and toward the end of however long the session was you start to feel that pain start to creep back in and the next day it would be awful. You played that song and dance so many times over the last two months, so that was the most frustrating part.”

Curry leads the Warriors in scoring with 27.2 points per game and it has been frustrating.

When asked whether he and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini had determined how many minutes Curry might play, Kerr said “less than 48.”

And it was possible Curry could come off the bench — “everything is possible, yeah, anything is possible.”

Whatever his limitations, the Warriors can't wait to have No. 30 finally contribute again.

“The game tends to get a lot easier for everybody when Steph is out there. We'll still be playing our style of basketball but it will be nice to have him back assuming he's back," Kerr said. “... Great energy, hope, he just brings hope to everybody, so the sun is shining a little brighter, food tastes a little better. Steph is Steph, he brings joy to everybody, players, coaches fans. He's a special human being.”

The Warriors (36-41) have lost three straight games overall and are to 13-25 this season without Curry — including 9-18 during this stretch with him sidelined by patellofemoral pain syndrome.

“Now Superman's back, we'll figure it out,” guard Gary Payton II said. “It's like a gravity pull, some type of pull, force pull. Just to see him available, I'm sure he gives life to players and coaches and front office.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, talks with San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, talks with San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, watches from the bench with assistant coaches Kris Weems, middle, and Jerry Stackhouse during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, watches from the bench with assistant coaches Kris Weems, middle, and Jerry Stackhouse during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, middle, smiles while talking with Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) and guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos, from left, reacts from the sideline with Quinten Post, Seth Curry, Will Richard and Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, smiles while shaking hands with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell after an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Hundreds of women marched in Kenya ’s capital Monday to call for the government to urgently investigate what advocacy groups say is an increase in killings and other violence against women.

Women’s rights organizations have urged the government to declare gender-based violence a national crisis, and have seized on the recent killing of a singer who was doused with gasoline and set on fire to mobilize support.

The women walked under police escort through the streets of Nairobi carrying a coffin and holding placards saying “Stop Killing Women." The protesters also sought to raise awareness about reports of a recent rise in the disappearances of children. Gender Minister Hannah Wendot last week called for prompt investigations into the disappearances.

Protester Ruby Abura said she had been stabbed by her lover, and that her mother was killed. “My mom is just but an example. A lot women have been killed, and no one is doing anything. We can’t see our women leaders acting on it, and it is not right,” she said.

Police said late last month that they had formed a unit to investigate gender-based violence, bringing together criminal intelligence analysts, forensic experts, homicide investigators and other specialists. The police said that most gender-based violence cases are linked to domestic disputes, intimate partner violence, sexual offences, assault and unresolved family conflicts.

The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya says it receives about 70 gender-based violence cases every week across its three offices in Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and the lakeside city of Kisumu.

Lobby groups on May 21 issued a 40-day ultimatum to the government to declare a national crisis or face nationwide protests. However, they decided to start protests sooner.

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators hold placards, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators hold placards, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

A demonstrator holds a doll wrapped in a Kenyan flag, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

A demonstrator holds a doll wrapped in a Kenyan flag, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Demonstrators carry a coffin, during a march against rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

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