Is Stephen Curry playing tonight against Boston Celtics? Latest update on Warriors star’s injury report (February 19th, 2026)

It was expected that the Golden State Warriors (29-26) would return from the All-Star break with Stephen Curry to face the Boston Celtics (35-19) at Chase Center on February 19th. But they will have to play without their offensive cornerstone, as he continues to nurse a persistent knee injury. The 2-time MVP’s absence marks a critical blow for Warriors, as they are currently 8th in the West, and are fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament. While Curry needed this break to provide a window for rest and recovery, the team’s heavy dependence on him for scoring remains a point of concern. The franchise’s medical staff is cautious with the 37-year-old’s health, as they need him in his optimal condition to make the most out of his talents on the court. Stephen Curry is dealing with knee cap soreness, also known as runner's knee, and due to this, he hasn’t appeared in a game since January 30th, and was also forced to withdraw from the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, his 12th All-Star appearance. Curry told ESPN, "You have to try to get rid of all the inflammation and pain. It's something we still have to monitor and injury-manage, but it's something where, if I come back too early, it could flare up."Even Steve Kerr emphasized being “certain” with the injury, as they require Curry to come back completely healed. He stated, “We've got to be certain. He's got to be certain. It is a little nebulous, but that's the nature of the injury."The game against the Celtics will be Curry’s sixth consecutive game that he has missed and 17th of this season. The baby-faced assassin has played in 39 games so far and has averaged 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc and 46.8% from the floor. According to StatMuse, the Warriors currently have a 6-10 record without Stephen Curry. They have an offensive rating of 119.3 with Curry on the court, but it drops to roughly 106.4 without him, while the shooting efficiency from the floor also drops from 47.5% to 42.7% and from 45.4% to 44.2% from deep. The Warriors are already without Jimmy Butler (season-ending ACL tear) and Seth Curry (sciatica). However, there is a silver lining: Kristaps Porzingis. Acquired in a blockbuster deadline trade for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, Porzingis is expected to make his Warriors debut tonight while providing a much-needed interior gravity at the post-up. The Celtics have a 113.5 defensive rating this season, and have been able to limit their opponents to just 108.4 PPG. Without Stephen Curry, the Warriors will struggle offensively, but the team has maintained a solid defense this season and has the 9th-best defensive rating of 113.5%.