It’s a battle for both teams to keep their season alive. The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers will clash in the play-in tournament to do exactly that. Each team has gone through a transition, shocks, and a late burst of promise against the odds. That’s where this headliner matchup creates intrigue. Both these teams, if in the playoffs, could be among the more difficult ones to get past. But as is the case at this point in the season, health will be a critical factor.

Is Stephen Curry playing tonight? Latest injury update on the Warriors

Stephen Curry managed to make his return at the end of the regular season after being out for two months with a knee injury. The Warriors star is fully cleared to play against the Clippers. However, there is a catch. The Baby-Faced Assassin will be on a minutes restriction as the Dubs try to protect him.

“Those things go hand in hand, and I would say if we had another couple of weeks of Steph, recovering from his absence, he’d be able to play more minutes,” Steve Kerr revealed when asked about limiting Curry’s minutes in a must-win game. “But this is just the reality of where he is.”

Although on a minutes restriction, Curry managed to score 20+ points in two of his four games since returning. Likewise, with not enough reps under his belt, the Warriors want to avoid any risk of aggravating an already complicated injury and season overall for the two-time MVP.

Golden State Warriors injury report

Jimmy Butler – Out for the season (ACL)

Moses Moody – Out for the season (torn patellar tendon)

Quinten Post – Out (Right foot injury)

Is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight? Latest injury update on the Clippers

Kawhi Leonard met the 65-game criteria this season. Aside from an ankle injury at the very beginning, the Klaw’s been healthy. He’s also on an incredible streak of scoring 20 or more points in 57 consecutive games this season. Ty Lue will rely heavily on the two-time Finals MVP in the do-or-die clash. After resting him in the final game of the regular season, Leonard is rejuvenated and fully fit for the play-in tournament eliminator. It’s a major boost for the Clippers, who have also seen some of their other stars get healthy over the past few weeks.

Los Angeles Clippers injury report

Isaiah Jackson – Questionable (right ankle sprain)

Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out for the season (Lisfranc fracture)

Stephen Curry vs Clippers & Kawhi Leonard vs Warriors: How they’ve performed in past matchups

Over his last ten games against the Clippers, Stephen Curry is averaging 25.6 points and 6.3 assists per game. He scored 24 to close out the regular season against them in just 29 minutes. However, the Warriors talisman has also recorded three games in this stretch, scoring under 20.

On the other hand, Kawhi Leonard has produced 25.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in his last ten games against the Warriors. Side note, they are among the few teams to have held the Klaw under 20 points this season. That occurred in their first matchup this season in October, when Leonard finished with 18. That was the Clippers’ only loss to the Warriors this season.

Warriors vs Clippers: Odds and what to expect

This isn’t going to be an easy game. Both teams have an urgency to make it to the playoffs. However, it’s the Clippers who have the advantage. Leonard is the main pillar, putting up 27.9 points this season on unreal efficiency. With other stellar players, such as two-time All-Star Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, the Clippers are now more complete.

The Warriors would be sailing in the same boat. But with Curry and Kristaps Porzingis both on minutes restrictions, the team is asking their young nucleus to do most of the heavy lifting. That may prove unsuccessful against a well-balanced, healthy Clippers side. With Jimmy Butler also out, the Warriors don’t have enough firepower to meet the Clippers head-on.

PolyMarket supports these claims. According to the platform, the Los Angeles Clippers have a 67% chance of winning the play-in tournament game against the Golden State Warriors. The existing injuries and the Warriors’ key stars being hampered by knocks create a tough environment for the team.

However, if they manage to pick up some rhythm early, Kerr could lead them to victory. For that to happen, contributions from Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton will be crucial.

Warriors vs Clippers predicted starting lineups