What happened: Golden State Warriors report Stephen Curry has intensified individual on-court workouts for patella-femoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his right knee. The All-Star guard will soon join live action and team practices after missing 20 games. He faces re-evaluation upon the team's return home next week.

Why it matters: Curry's return looms critical for Warriors mired in 10th seed play-in spot with few games left, where they've struggled without him including sub-.500 record and poor trends. Playoff odds dipped below 50% during absence amid tough remaining schedule.

What to watch: Watch for Curry's practice participation this week and post-road trip re-evaluation for updated return timeline.