Although Sunday marks the conclusion of the NBA regular season, the showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers carries postseason intensity.
As Janis Carr of The Orange County Register puts it, the game is “virtually a playoff game.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher: the victor secures a direct entry into the playoffs, while the defeated team risks sliding into seventh place and being forced into the unpredictability of the play-in tournament.
“High stakes, huh?” remarked Clippers center Ivica Zubac after his team narrowly escaped Sacramento with a one-point win on Friday.
Reflecting on the importance of every recent victory, he added, “It’s been like that forever. Imagine if we didn’t win all these games.” His words underscore just how tight the Western Conference standings have been, with every game having potential ripple effects.
The Clippers have dominated the head-to-head series so far, winning all three previous matchups this season. However, those victories came before significant roster changes and returns on both sides.
Their last meeting, back on December 27, predates Kawhi Leonard’s return from a 34-game absence due to knee issues, and it was also before the Warriors shook up their roster by acquiring Jimmy Butler in a bold trade deadline move.
Since then, both teams have surged, climbing steadily in the standings, setting the stage for a dramatic finale on Sunday.
Leonard, ever calm and focused, downplayed the hype while still acknowledging the essence of the moment: “It’s basketball. The outcome is going to tell what happens,” he said.
“So, it’s just going out and playing, that’s all you can do. Play and have fun. Everybody wants to win coming down the stretch.”
Pacific Notes: Warriors Vs. Clippers, Reaves, Redick, Kuminga https://t.co/T5IVSKCE85 pic.twitter.com/5NGzJEOCMI
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 13, 2025
