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Stephen Curry gave Golden State Warriors fans a scare against the Los Angeles Clippers. The first injury report ahead of Golden State’s next play-in game against the Phoenix Suns delivered a much better message.

Curry was not listed on the Warriors’ initial injury report heading into Friday night’s win-or-go-home matchup in Phoenix, which is the clearest sign yet that Golden State expects its star guard to be ready. That matters because Curry only recently returned from the right knee issue that sidelined him for 27 games, and because there were a couple of moments against the Clippers that made his condition look worth watching.

It also matters because this is not just another regular-season game. The Warriors advanced by beating the Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday, and now they face the Suns for the West’s No. 8 seed and a first-round series against Oklahoma City. Curry played like himself in the comeback win, scoring 35 points with seven 3-pointers, but the bigger question after the game was whether he had come through it physically OK.

Steph Curry Looked Fine Late, But There Were Reasons for Concern

Warriors fans had reason to be nervous in real time.

During the Clippers game, Curry went back to the locker room in the first quarter before returning to the bench, and a separate report noted that he did not appear to be limping or in obvious pain at that point. Even so, that kind of midgame exit stood out because of how recently he came back from a lengthy knee absence.

There were also a few sequences later in the game where Curry appeared to get up slowly, feeding more speculation that he might be dealing with something physically. He still finished with a vintage close, though, scoring 27 of his 35 points in the second half as Golden State erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.

That is why the injury-report piece matters. At this stage of the season, especially for a player coming off a major absence, official availability listings mean more than guesses based on body language.

Why This Is Such a Big Sign for the Warriors

This is encouraging news not only because Curry is the Warriors’ offensive engine, but because he had still been under workload management very recently. That’s to be expected for a 38-year-old trying to will a Warriors team with a losing record to the playoffs.

On April 13, Reuters reported that Curry was expected to be on a minutes restriction against the Clippers as he worked his way back from the knee injury. He had not played more than 29 minutes in any of his first games after returning. Then he logged nearly 36 minutes in the win over Los Angeles and looked strong enough late to take over the game.

That does not automatically mean he is 100 percent. But not appearing on the injury report is still a meaningful development. It suggests the Warriors did not see enough from Wednesday’s game to flag him heading into the biggest game of their season.

For Golden State, that is about as positive as it gets one day after an obvious in-game scare.

The Suns Game Changes Everything for Golden State

If Curry is fully available, the Warriors have a real shot to turn this into a two-game playoff swing.

Golden State’s win over the Clippers kept alive a season that had veered off course more than once because of injuries. The Warriors are still only one win away from grabbing the No. 8 seed, and Curry just reminded everyone Wednesday night what that looks like when he can still swing a game on his own.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is waiting in a game that will decide who gets the final Western Conference playoff spot. That makes Curry’s status the biggest pregame storyline for Golden State. A Warriors team with Curry available is one thing. A Warriors team entering Phoenix with uncertainty around his knee is something else entirely.