Warriors vs. Clippers: Breaking down each matchup from 2025-26 season before the play-in tournament

The Golden State Warriors will suit up for a win-or-go-home game on Wednesday night against the familiar foe, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors and Clippers share the same division, conference and coast. However, that's not the only thing they share. The Warriors and Clippers have shared some similar storylines from the 2025-25 season. They've each had their ups and downs, along with major trades and injuries to their core players.

Despite playing four times during the regular season, each game tells a bit of a different story. Before the Warriors meet the Clippers in Wednesday's play-in game, Warriors Wire went back through the season, looking at every matchup between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed in the west, breaking down the leading scorers and different notes from each contest.

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Game 1: Oct. 28, 2025

Oct 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the basketball over Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

• Location: Chase Center - San Francisco

• Score: GSW 98 - LAC 79

• Leading Scorers:

  • LAC: James Harden: 20 PTS, 4 REB, AST, 3 TO
  • GSW: Jimmy Butler: 21 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

• Injuries:

  • LAC:

    • Bradley Beal (back)
    • Jordan Miller (hamstring)
    • Kobe Sanders (knee)

  • GSW:

    • DeAnthony Melton (ACL recovery)

• Notes:

  • Warriors rolling to open season. Moved to 4-1 with win over LAC.

  • Kawhi Leonard: 18 points, 7-17 FG, -29 (game-high)

  • 3 PT Battle:

    • LAC: 6-33 3PT FG
    • GSW: 17-45 3PT FG (GSW +11)

  • Sharing The Ball (Assists):

    • LAC Assists: 10
    • GSW Assists: 24 (GSW +14)

  • The Warriors covered the pregame spread of +2.5.

Game 2: Jan. 5, 2026 (GSW Leads Series 1-0)

Jan 5, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

• Location: Intuit Dome - Los Angeles

• Score: LAC 103 - GSW 102

• Leading Scorers:

  • LAC: Kawhi Leonard: 24 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 5 TO
  • GSW: Steph Curry: 27 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB, 3 STL

• Injuries:

  • LAC:

    • Bradley Beal (back)
    • Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring)
    • Derrick Jones Jr. (knee sprain)
    • Chris Paul (not with team)
    • James Harden (shoulder)

  • GSW:

    • Seth Curry (Sciatic)

• Notes:

  • Clippers Surging, winners of 7 of last 8 with win over GSW.
  • Al Horford: 5 PTS, 1-8 FG, Team High -14
  • Gary Payton II: 14 PTS, 7-10 FG, 5 REB, 2 AST, 15 MIN OFF BENCH.
  • Jimmy Butler (24), Curry only players for Warriors to score over 20 PTS.
  • Steve Kerr ejected after John Collins goaltending call.
  • Steph Curry fouls out for first time since 2021. Hit back-to-back 3-pointers before fouling out.
  • Jimmy Butler misses a game-winning attempt at buzzer.
  • The Clippers covered the pregame spread of +3.5.

Game 3: March 2, 2026 (Series Tied 1-1)

Mar 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) shoots a three-point basket over Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

• Location: Chase Center - San Francisco

• Score: LAC 114 - GSW 101

• Leading Scorers:

  • LAC: Kawhi Leonard: 23 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
  • GSW: Brandin Podziemski: 22 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST

• Injuries:

  • LAC:

    • Bradley Beal (hip)
    • John Collins (neck)

  • GSW:

    • Steph Curry (knee)
    • Jimmy Butler (ACL)
    • Kristaps Porzingis (illness)
    • Seth Curry (sciatic)
    • Will Richard (ankle)
    • Gary Payton II (ankle)

• Notes:

  • Despite dropping three in a row, the Clippers would go on to win seven of their next eight from March 1 to March 13.
  • The Warriors are struggling without Curry, losing seven of their next eight from Feb. 28 to March 15.
  • Six members of the Clippers score in double figures.
  • Darius Garland Clippers debut: 12 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 5 TO
  • Yanic Konan Niederhauser sparks the Clippers off the bench with 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
  • The Warriors led by as many as 17 points in the first half. The Warriors still led by double-figures in the third quarter.
  • The Warriors were outscored 72-55 in the second half.
  • The Clippers covered the pregame spread of -1.5.

Game 4: April 12, 2026 (LAC leads series 2-1)

Apr 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

• Location: Intuit Dome - Los Angeles

• Score: LAC 115 - GSW 110

• Leading Scorers:

  • LAC: Bennedict Mathurin: 20 PTS, 7-17 FG, 9 REB, 8 AST
  • GSW: Steph Curry: 24 PTS, 7-14 FG. 4-9 3PT FG, 6 REB, 3 AST, 3 TO

• Injuries:

  • LAC:

    • Bradley Beal (back)
    • Kawhi Leonard (ankle)
    • Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot)
    • Isaiah Jackson (ankle)

  • GSW:

    • Jimmy Butler (ACL)
    • Moses Moody (knee)
    • Quinten Post (foot)
    • Draymond Green (back)

• Notes:

  • Clippers win season series 3-1.
  • The Clippers are 9-1 against the Warriors in their last 10 meetings.
  • The Warriors struggle from beyond the arc, shooting 11-of-39 from deep. (28%).
  • Steph Curry's fourth game back from injury. Missed 27 games with a knee injury.
  • Curry (29), Kristaps Porzingis (24) and Al Horford (19) all played significant minutes together for the first time in 2025-26 season. The trio of core players have all been dealing with injuries.
  • The Portland Trail Blazers' win over the Sacramento Kings on the final day of the NBA season finalized the Western Conference standings, locking in the Clippers vs. Warriors in the play-in tournament.
  • The Warriors covered the pregame spread of +6.5.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors vs. Clippers: Breaking down each matchup from regular season