On the second night of a back-to-back, the Golden State Warriors head into Brooklyn with a simple question hanging over the matchup: who is actually suiting up? The final report provides clarity. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are expected to play, Jimmy Butler is probable, and several role players face strict management. For a Warriors team sitting at 16-16 after an overtime loss to Toronto, every body counts. The Nets, by contrast, are mostly healthy. That contrast could decide the night.

Warriors injury report: Curry in, Butler probable, Horford and Seth out

Golden State’s star guard Stephen Curry had hinted at uncertainty after dropping 39 points and 4 assists in the overtime defeat to the Raptors. It’s a back-to-back, and that usually invites caution. But the final update points to him playing in Brooklyn. That’s a big swing for the Warriors’ offense and their confidence.

Draymond Green, who chipped in 21 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in Toronto, is also expected to go. His voice and playmaking steady Golden State, especially when rotations get thin. His presence helps the team’s communication, defense, and tempo.

Jimmy Butler is listed as probable due to lower back discomfort. Even at less than 100 percent, his two-way play and late-game poise can be a difference-maker. If he can give them 25–30 solid minutes, that’s a major boost in crunch time and on the wing defensively.

Two veterans are out: Al Horford will sit for left toe injury management, and Seth Curry is sidelined by left sciatic nerve irritation. The Warriors will miss Horford’s size, screening, and floor spacing, plus Seth’s perimeter gravity. Those absences put more weight on the guards and small-ball units.

There is one encouraging note for the bench: De’Anthony Melton is expected to return after missing the last game for left knee management. His defense at the point of attack, quick hands, and catch-and-shoot threes are exactly what Golden State needs to survive minutes when Steph rests.

“If Steph suits up on a back-to-back, the message is simple: this one matters.”

Nets health check: mostly full strength, with two notes

Brooklyn comes in relatively clean, and that’s a luxury in late December. Haywood Highsmith remains out as he recovers from knee surgery. Ziaire Williams is a game-time decision with an ankle issue. The rest of the roster is ready.

That means the Nets can roll out their preferred combinations, vary matchups, and push pace if they choose. A healthy rotation lets them target soft spots and stay fresh in the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back challenge: managing minutes without losing rhythm

Back-to-backs test everything: legs, focus, and execution. Curry and Green logging heavy minutes in Toronto raises the minute-management question. The Warriors don’t want to burn out their stars, but they also need this win to stay above water.

Expect Golden State to stagger rotations carefully. If Butler plays, his ability to handle the ball and create in the mid-post gives the Warriors a pressure release when Curry sits. Melton’s return helps keep the perimeter defense honest and supports lineups that switch more often.

“Butler at 80% still changes the Warriors’ late-game DNA.”

What Golden State needs: bench belief and clean possessions

With Horford and Seth Curry out, Golden State’s depth must stretch. The Warriors need clean possessions, limited turnovers, and smart shot selection from their second unit. That means attacking closeouts, moving the ball, and defending without fouling.

On defense, Melton’s arrival can tilt second-unit minutes. He digs at ball-handlers, jumps passing lanes, and turns defense into quick points. That kind of lift matters when you lack size and you’re on tired legs.

But most of all, the Warriors need the supporting cast to hit open threes. Curry’s gravity still bends defenses. If the role players cash in on the kick-out looks, Golden State can survive patches where the offense stalls.

What Brooklyn needs: pressure the paint, run the floor

Without Horford, the Warriors lose a big body and a stabilizer. That gives the Nets a clear plan: pressure the paint, force rotations, and crash the glass. Push off misses, test the Warriors in transition, and make Curry work on defense by moving him around screens and cuts.

Brooklyn’s clean injury sheet also means they can defend with energy. Fresh legs can chase Curry over screens and send extra help late without breaking the scheme. If the Nets keep the ball in front and limit corner threes, they’ll like their chances.

“Nets are healthy; if Golden State steals this, credit the bench.”

Spotlight on stars: Curry’s burden, Green’s control

Curry is the engine. His 39 against Toronto shows he’s still impossible to guard when he’s in rhythm. The question is volume on short rest. Will he hunt early threes, or set up teammates and save bursts for the fourth?

Green will direct traffic. His voice keeps the Warriors locked in, and his short-roll playmaking is vital when teams blitz Curry. If he controls the tempo and limits empty trips, Golden State’s half-court offense can hold up even without Horford’s screening and spacing.

Stakes and predictions: a measuring stick night

For the Warriors, this is about toughness and timing. They’re 16-16 and fighting to build momentum. Winning on the road, on a back-to-back, against a mostly healthy team, would send a message that their core can still carry and that the pieces around them can deliver under strain.

For the Nets, it’s about taking care of business. A healthy roster should cash in on an opponent with absences. If they pressure the rim, run, and stack extra-possession plays, they can tilt the math in their favor.

The swing factors are simple: Can Golden State’s bench hit shots and stay organized? Can the Nets keep Curry out of nuclear mode late? If Butler is close to himself in crunch time, the clutch minutes could flip.

Final word

This isn’t just another December game. It’s a snapshot of where each team stands. The Warriors have their stars available, a key guard returning, and two rotation pieces out. The Nets are close to full strength and eager to push pace. If Golden State grinds out a win, it will be because Curry set the tone, Green kept the group steady, Butler gave them late-game edges, and the bench answered the call. If Brooklyn holds serve, it will be because fresh legs and a healthy rotation wore down a team that’s fighting both the schedule and the injury sheet.