NBA Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (28-31) vs. Golden State Warriors (31-29)

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Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
TV: Peacock, NBCS-BA (Warriors), FDSSC (Clippers) (Note: No Clippers-Warriors game was scheduled for March 1; this is the confirmed matchup per the 2025-26 NBA schedule.)

Injury Report

Los Angeles Clippers

  • Bradley Beal (G) – Out for Season (hip)
  • Kris Dunn (G) – GTD (head; exited early Sunday)
  • John Collins (F) – GTD (arm; exited early Sunday)
  • Darius Garland (G) – Expected debut (acquired in January; toe injury cleared)

Golden State Warriors

  • Stephen Curry (G) – Out (right knee; missed 11th straight, est. return ~March 13 or later; re-eval in 10 days)
  • Jimmy Butler (F) – Out for Season (knee/ACL)
  • Kristaps Porziņģis (C) – Out (illness; 5th straight missed, est. return ~March 5)
  • Will Richard (G) – Out (ankle; est. return ~March 5)
  • Seth Curry (G) – Out (est. return ~March 5)
  • Gary Payton II (G) – GTD (ankle)

The Warriors are decimated — missing their franchise face (Curry), a key veteran acquisition (Butler), their new big (Porziņģis), and multiple rotation pieces. Golden State is playing with a makeshift lineup heavy on young/depth players (Podziemski, Melton, Santos, etc.). Clippers are on the second night of a back-to-back but far healthier overall.

Recent Team Forms

Clippers (improving after skid): 5-5 in last 10, but winners of 4 of last 6 before Sunday.

  • Mar 1 vs. NOP: W 137-117 (Kawhi Leonard 23 pts; snapped 3-game losing streak)
  • Feb 27 @ MIN: L (close loss)
  • Recent trend: Explosive offense in wins (averaging 120+ PPG lately), but defensive lapses on road. 7-3 ATS in last 10; Over in 4 of last 5.

Warriors (struggling without core): 4-6 in last 10, L1 streak, alternating W/L recently.

  • Feb 28 vs. LAL: L 101-129 (blowout home loss)
  • Recent trend: Porous defense (allowing 116+ PPG without Curry/Porziņģis); 3-7 ATS in last 10; Over in 6 of last 7. Home record strong on paper but shaky vs. motivated Western foes.

Key Player Matchups

  • Kawhi Leonard (LAC) vs. Warriors depleted wings/frontcourt (Santos / Podziemski / Melton rotation): Leonard (fresh off 23 pts) should exploit mismatches; expect heavy usage as primary scorer/closer.
  • James Harden / Darius Garland (LAC backcourt) vs. Warriors guards (without Curry): Clippers’ new/old guard tandem creates easy looks; Warriors lack perimeter creation/defense. Garland’s debut adds playmaking spark.
  • Ivica Zubac / John Collins (LAC bigs) vs. Warriors thin frontcourt: Massive rebounding/rim protection edge to LA without Porziņģis.
  • Bench/Depth: Clippers’ veteran depth (even with GTDs) vs. Warriors’ youth/injury-riddled unit — LA has clear energy advantage on back-to-back.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

Teams have split the first two meetings (1-1):

  • Oct. 28, 2025: Warriors 98, Clippers 79 (Chase Center)
  • Jan. 5, 2026: Clippers 103, Warriors 102 (Intuit Dome)

All-time, Warriors lead regular-season series 139-103. This is the 3rd of 4 meetings; recent H2H has been low-scoring and close (Unders in both 2025-26 games). Clippers are 7-1 ATS in last 8 vs. Golden State overall.

Betting Trends

  • Key ATS notes: Clippers 7-3 ATS last 10; 7-1 ATS in last 8 vs. Warriors; 10-5 SU/ATS on road since late December. Warriors 3-7 ATS last 10; 2-6 ATS in last 8 home games; poor 4-6 without Curry.
  • O/U trends: Over in 4 of Clippers’ last 5; 6 of Warriors’ last 7. Both teams push pace when missing stars (high-possession games). Head-to-head Unders early this season, but recent form points to higher totals. Clippers 7-1 ATS as road favorites/under 3 pts this season.

Game Odds

Los Angeles Clippers                      – 1.5

Golden State Warriors                   219.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, March 1, 2026

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