Updated April 15, 2026, 11:39 p.m. ET
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament continues with a fitting Northern and Southern California rivalry. The limited Golden State Warriors will go on the road to face the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, April 15, where the loser ends their season. The winner will play again Friday against the Phoenix Suns for the eighth and final spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The Warriors haven’t had reason to be admirers of the NBA Play-In Tournament, having posted a 1-3 record in play-in games. Golden State has battled injuries throughout the season to Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Stephen Curry but managed to hang on for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors have integrated 7-foot-2 center Kristaps Porzingis after a deadline trade; he’s averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 23.7 minutes in 15 games with Golden State.
The Clippers are in the play-in for the second time in the postseason history, and they haven’t had anything to cheer about either. They were defeated twice in their only appearance in 2022, losing both games for the No. 7 and 8 seeds.
The Clippers won the regular-season series with the Warriors, 3-1 in four meetings with their Pacific Division rival, including the final game of the season on April 12. Golden State has lost seven of its previous eight games, a lone win coming against the lottery-bound Sacramento Kings.
NBA analysts and betting experts have awarded the Clippers the victory in this matchup between these Pacific Division rivals. They broke down their latest picks, predictions and odds ahead of the Western Conference play-in tournament game between the No. 9 seed Los Angeles Clippers and No. 10 seed Golden State Warriors.
USA TODAY Sports has live updates of the NBA Play-In Tournament, here’s how the game has panned out:
Halftime: Clippers 61, Warriors 53
The Los Angeles Clippers responded to the Warriors cutting their deficit with buckets from Kawhi Leonard, Benedict Mathurin and Brook Lopez. They ended the first half with a 61-53 lead going into the locker room.
The Clippers were led by Leonard with 14 points. Darius Garland had 11 points to add for Los Angeles. However, their bench production is what told the tale in the first 24 minutes. The secondary unit scored 18 in the first half.
The Warriors were led by Brandin Podziemski with 11 points. Stephen Curry had eight points, despite scaring fans with an unexpected trip to the locker room in the first quarter. He later returned to the game. Kristaps Porzingis has nine in the first half.
Warriors push cuts deficit
A couple of threes from the Warriors backcourt between Brandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry helped cut the Clipper lead down to four, 57-53, with a minute left in the half.
Draymond Green technical foul
Draymond Green gets a technical foul after going back and forth with with NBA official James Williams, which led to two free throws from Kawhi Leonard. Clippers led 52-42.
Clippers look to separate themselves
The Los Angeles Clippers duo of Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard have scored 22 of the team’s 52 points. They have 11 points each as the team leads 50-42.
Stephen Curry returns to the game
Stephen Curry returned to the game at the 7:59 mark of the second quarter.
Warriors take lead without Stephen Curry
Despite star guard Stephen Curry being out for a brief moment, the Warriors went on a stretch where they were able to get back the lead in the second quarter, 33-31, after a 9-0 run. Curry is back on the bench, but hasn’t subbed back in the game.
End of 1Q: Clippers 31, Warriors 22
Clippers led the Warriors, 31-22, after 12 minutes of play in the opening quarter. Warriors guard Stephen Curry went into the locker room after a little over seven minutes of play.
Los Angeles was led by Darius Garland with eight points, while Kawhi Leonard had six. The Clippers’ second unit has shown up in the first quarter, scoring 18 of the team’s 31 points.
Stephen Curry goes to locker room
Warriors guard Stephen Curry went to the locker room late in the first quarter. It is unclear as to what happened. Curry has missed time with Golden State during the regular-season due to what the team previously told USA TODAY Sports was runners’ knee.
Warriors take lead, respond with a quick run
The Warriors got things cooking in the middle of the first quarter sparked by a Brandin Podziemski three-pointer, as did Draymond Green. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with a couple field goals. Golden State led 17-16 after a Stephen Curry three-pointer with 5:07 left in the opening period.
Clippers on fire to start game
The Los Angeles Clippers opened the game on a 10-2 run in the first 3:19 of the game. Clippers are led by Darius Garland with six points on 3-for-3 shooting. Kawhi Leonard has four points, he made his first field goal and a couple free throws.
What to watch for during Warriors vs. Clippers
Be on the lookout for these key points during the NBA Play-In game between the Warriors and Clippers.
Superstar matchup: Steph Curry vs Kawhi Leonard
There’s something special about the postseason when superstar talent goes toe-to-toe with each other. When it’s a pair of stars who dominated the previous decade and much of this one, and you’re not sure when you’ll see greatness go head-to-head again, it’s a spectacle to view.
The Warriors and Clippers matchup is a highly anticipated one because it’s a chance to see Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard face each other in the postseason for perhaps the final time. Leonard has the slightly better playoff win percentage against Curry, going 8-5 in their 13 matchups.
The last time these two saw each other in the postseason was the 2019 NBA Finals, when Leonard played for the Toronto Raptors. Leonard went to lead the Raptors to the championship in six games and was named Finals MVP after Warriors suffered key injuries to Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant.
Curry got the best of Leonard during the 2017 Western Conference Finals, however. Leonard was injured in Game 1 and missed the remainder of the series. The Warriors won the series and went on to win the NBA championship.
During the 2025-26 season, Curry averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 assists and four rebounds on 44%/31%/87% shooting splits in three games against the Clippers. Leonard averaged 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in three games against the Warriors.
Only one will get the last laugh during the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament game.
Which second unit will show up for stars?
As much of the attention will be focused on the marquee players, the second unit and bench production will be a key component to this game. Los Angeles has the better secondary unit, at least on paper. Its team consists of a number of dependable scoring options and shot makers such as Bennedict Mathurin, Kobe Sanders, John Collins and Jordan Miller. The Clippers have guys who aren’t afraid to get scrappy, such as Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Collins and Mathurin. The Clippers benched averaged 30 points per game.
But the Warriors have guys who aren’t big names, but have stepped up when their numbers have been called. The Warriors’ secondary unit has averaged 45 points per game. Key bench players for Golden State have been Pat Spencer, Gary Payton II, Gui Santos and Al Horford. When the Warriors’ second unit is defensive minded, and play a balanced game of attacking and knocking down 3s, they are hard to beat.
Production from secondary scorers, options
The Warriors made a midseason trade for Kristaps Porzingis, who has averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 23.7 minutes in 15 games with Golden State.
Porzingis filled a much-needed void at the center position, adding size and shooting capability as one of his strong suits. The Warriors will need his offensive and defensive presence to give them a chance to win. He was brought to the team to add some championship experience. He was a part of the team that helped the 2024 Boston Celtics win the trophy, along with Horford. Golden State looks for Porzingis and Horford to channel that with the experience of Green, Curry and Kerr.
For the Clippers, they made a trade deadline move to bring in Garland. The Clippers were rolling after the 6-21 start and continued to trend in that direction after the trade that sent James Harden to the Cavaliers. Garland has been a bright spot for the Clippers and seems to be a piece for their future. He can showcase that he belongs in Los Angeles’ future plans with a monster performance during the NBA Play-In Tournament and possibly playoffs.
Garland has averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 19 games with the Clippers. He’s shooting splits are 46%/39%/86%.
Warriors vs. Clippers starting lineups
Here are the starting lineups for the No. 9/10 seed game between the Warriors and Clippers.
Golden State Warriors starting lineup:
- Guard: Stephen Curry
- Guard: Brandin Podziemski
- Forward: Gui Santos
- Forward: Draymond Green
- Center: Kristaps Porzingis
- Head coach: Steve Kerr
Los Angeles Clippers starting lineup:
- Guard: Darius Garland
- Guard: Kris Dunn
- Forward: Kawhi Leonard
- Forward: Derrick Jones Jr.
- Center: Brook Lopez
- Head coach: Tyronn Lue
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Warriors vs. Clippers live NBA odds
Odds as of 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 14, courtesy BetMGM
- Spread: Clippers (-5.5)
- Moneyline: Clippers (-220); Warriors (+180)
- Over/Under: 221.5
HOW TO BUY: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers NBA Play-In tickets
Warriors vs Clippers prediction: NBA play-in game picks
USA TODAY Sports: Slim majority pick Clippers
- Lorenzo Reyes: Clippers
- Scooby Axson: Clippers
- Mark Giannotto: Warriors
- Jon Hoefling: Clippers
- James H. Williams: Clippers
- Andres Soto: Warriors
- Marcus D. Smith: Warriors
Sportsbook Wire: Clippers 116, Warriors 108
“The Warriors are only 15-25 on the road and have not beaten the Clippers on the road since 2021. The Clippers have beaten the Warriors in 9 of the last 10 meetings. The Clippers are 22-18 at home this season.”
Arizona Republic: Clippers 113, Warriors 106
“Can Steph Curry get hot and lead the Warriors to an upset? It’s certainly possible, but the Clippers will have the defenders to slow him down as Los Angeles gets a big win over Golden State in the NBA Play-In Game.”
BetMGM: Clippers likely win, Warriors cover
BetMGM’s model predicts the Clippers will win Sunday‘s game with 57.4% confidence, against the Warriors and projects Golden State to cover the spread for Sunday‘s game with 61.6% confidence.
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How to watch Warriors vs Clippers: TV, live streaming for NBA play-in game
- Date: Wednesday, April 15
- Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local)
- Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California)
- TV: None
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video