Warriors' De'Anthony Melton clears back-to-back hurdle, eyes Steph Curry's return

Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) goes up to shoot against Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) (Duane Burleson/Associated Press) DALLAS – De'Anthony Melton quietly found satisfaction in playing games on consecutive nights for the first time this season Friday and Saturday. That's no idle achievement for a player fewer than 16 months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL.

Melton's efforts – 14 points against Detroit, then 20 more against Atlanta – did not prevent the Golden State Warriors from absorbing two more frustrating losses. They are skidding toward oblivion, with eight defeats in their past nine games entering Monday night's visit to Dallas. That helps explain the somber mood in the locker room late Saturday night in Atlanta, after a dispiriting 126-110 loss.

But Melton reported no ill effects from playing both ends of the back-to-back, an assignment the Warriors had carefully avoided with him all season. He's still on a minutes restriction: Melton logged a modest 22-plus minutes against the Pistons and 21-plus against the Hawks. But the notable development was he actually played both nights, setting aside caution for the first time since he returned to action Dec.

4, exactly one year after his surgery. "I felt great out there," he said. "It's great to play back-to-back and just compete.