Warriors Gear Up for Play-In Rematch

ENGLEWOOD — The Warriors are set to face the Clippers again just three days after their last encounter, with everything on the line in what seems like a doubleheader at the same venue.

They have a short 72-hour window between practice and a crucial rematch at the Intuit Dome, slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

After their 115-110 defeat to the Clippers in the final regular-season game, Stephen Curry remarked, “It’s a no-brainer.” The game served as a precursor to a pivotal play-in match.

Curry, dealing with lingering knee issues, doesn’t really need extra motivation for this, his fourth trip to the play-in tournament. What used to feel daunting now seems hopeful—a shift that’s part of what fueled his comeback this season.

“We’ve been there before,” Curry noted. “Whether it’s Game 7 or some of those play-in games we’ve had the fortune to play in… This year, with all the injuries, our expectations had to evolve.” Experience, as they say, helps.

The injuries have created a curious situation. The teams know each other well, but neither has faced off with everything at stake this season. Their first two games occurred before Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury, and Curry missed the third due to his 27-game absence, while neither Draymond Green nor Kawhi Leonard played Sunday. It seems neither coach wants to reveal too much.

“We know who they are,” Curry stated confidently.

Manager Steve Kerr commented on Sunday’s game, saying there wasn’t much to glean from it. However, Brandin Podzemski mentioned seeing Darius Garland’s growing comfort since joining the Clippers after a trade that sent James Harden away.

“Both teams know each other pretty well, having faced off for many years,” Kerr said. “Garland is a different player than Harden, but the familiarity is there.”

Curry put in a strong performance with 24 points in 29 minutes, expressing he “felt really good.” Kerr checked in during the game and got similar feedback from him. “It’s a positive step,” Kerr confirmed.

Kerr’s observations from the game were encouraging, particularly noting that there were no new injuries, which is always a plus. “We should be ready to go on Wednesday night,” he added.

Nonetheless, the veteran players aren’t planning to overexert themselves for what’s essentially a do-or-die situation.

“We don’t know the exact minutes,” Kerr indicated. “Those guys aren’t going to play 40 minutes, I can assure you.”

This marks the Warriors’ fourth appearance in the play-in within their seven-season history. Curry chuckled when reminded of his second stint as a No. 10 seed, recalling their previous ranking in 2024 when they lost to the Kings.

Back in 2021, they fell short as the No. 8 seed. However, they fared better last year, advancing as the No. 7 seed and surprising the Rockets in the first round.

Green bluntly stated last week that the return to the play-in isn’t pleasant but added, “As a competitor, you’re going to rise to the challenge.”

Since Kerr took over in 2014, Curry, Green, and the team have experienced 13 losses in crucial games but boast a record of 9-4 in those matchups—all of which adds to their playoff credibility.

“We’ve got seasoned players who know how to win,” Podzemski observed. “Having Steph around definitely gives us an edge. I feel good about us in this one-game scenario.”