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Are Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler Playing Tonight? Where to Watch Warriors vs Lakers Preseason Game
Apr 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a play against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter of game four of the 2025 NBA Playoffs first round at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

The Warriors were late to start the ‘2025-26 prep’ during the offseason, but they are finally catching up with all the last-minute moves. Jonathan Kuminga has finally accepted the offer, then talents like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are coming. And even if this is just pre-season, what makes this matchup important is that two Western Conference powerhouses are going up against each other. The Golden State Warriors are set to take on the Los Angeles Lakers. But are the big guns playing?

While many expect this to be a star-studded affair, with both teams having extremely talented rosters, there are a few question marks over this preseason battle, especially around Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler’s fitness. If sources are to be believed, there’s a lot of uncertainty around Jimmy Butler’s availability. This comes after the Warriors forward missed back-to-back training sessions due to a rolled ankle. Coach Kerr then had to issue an update on Jimmy’s health.

The Dubs head coach, Steve Kerr, has confirmed that the veteran’s injury isn’t something to worry about ahead of the regular season. Yes, stressed on the regular season, indicating Jimmy’s availability for tonight’s clash is in danger. So, the 36-year-old will be questionable for this game. On the other hand, things also don’t look too bright for his teammate, Stephen Curry.

That’s because the superstar point guard will also see limited action tonight against the Purple & Gold if he suits up. The four-time NBA champion will roughly play around 15 minutes at the Chase Center tonight due to a reported thumb issue. That’s disappointing news for the Dubs Nation, who would’ve expected to see their favorite superstars take the court tonight in San Francisco. However, the troubles for the Warriors don’t just end here.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is also in doubt for the matchup. Then, Draymond Green might have to play restricted minutes to give others a chance. Not to mention, rookie Alex Toohey has been completely ruled out for this preseason game due to an ankle injury. So, it’s safe to say that the Golden State will be without a lot of its key players tonight when it takes on the Lakers. However, it shouldn’t be much of a worry, not just because it’s a preseason clash, but also due to other reasons.

Player Status
Jimmy Butler (ankle) Questionable
Trayce Jackson-Davis (thumb) Questionable
De’Anthony Melton (knee) Out
Stephen Curry (thumb) Questionable
Moses Moody (thumb) Questionable
Alex Toohey (ankle) Out

The other reasons we’re talking about are the fact that Los Angeles will also be without several of their stars, including two of their best players in Luka Doncic and LeBron James, both of whom are set to miss tonight’s matchup. So, it’s safe to assume that both teams will be on level playing fields when the ball hits the air tonight. Speaking of which, don’t you want to know where you can watch your favorite teams live in action tonight in the States?

Where to watch the Warriors vs. Lakers preseason matchup tonight?

While we might not be able to witness a legendary face-off between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, there will still be a lot to see when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors. However, the question is, where can you watch the game live within the United States?

TV Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN App, Fubo

Date: Sunday 5th October

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT

Tonight’s clash will be live on ESPN with Mike Breen calling out the game play-by-play alongside Tim Legler and Richard Jefferson. At the same time, Jorge Sedano will be reporting from courtside. So, you can also catch the action live there and also on the NBA App with the NBA League Pass subscription.

Now that you know who’s in, who’s out, and where to watch the game, only one question remains: who will come out on top in tonight’s preseason clash? Well, that’s tricky. If LeBron James and Luka Doncic were playing, it would’ve been an easy answer given the Warriors’ injury struggles, but that’s not the case.

Both teams will be without their superstars, but given that there’s a chance we might be seeing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in action, even if it’s just for 15 minutes, it’s hard to look past the Warriors. So, we think the Golden State might take home the win tonight. Nonetheless, these are mere speculations with everyone awaiting the real battle tonight at the Chase Center.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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