The Warriors return from the All-Star break to take on the Clippers at Oracle Arena on February 22nd.
Warriors vs. ClippersThursday, Feb. 227:30 p.m.Oracle Arena
WATCH: NBCSBA, TNT
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network
BACK FROM THE BREAK
The Warriors return from the All-Star break to take on the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, February 22nd. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two divisional opponents this season, after Golden State prevailed in two of their first three encounters. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Watch the action on NBC Sports Bay Area and TNT, or catch Tim Roye with the radio call on 95.7 The Game, the Warriors Mobile App and the Warriors Radio Network. FIND TICKETS
LAST TIME OUT Kevin Durant scored a season-high 50 points, but the Dubs ultimately fell 123-117 to the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
PROJECTED STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
LAC: Austin Rivers, Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari and DeAndre Jordan
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Patrick McCaw (sprained left thumb) missed the last game; Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) has missed last 12 games due to the injury suffered on 1/17. Team Notes
LAC: Team Notes
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
For the first time since Steve Kerr took over as head coach of the Warriors, Golden State did not have the top winning percentage in the league at the time of the All-Star break. That honor fell on the Houston Rockets, who sit a half-game ahead of the Warriors in the standings, with the same amount of victories as the Dubs, but one fewer defeat. So, over the 24 games that remain on Golden State’s regular season schedule, they’ll have some work to do if they want to claim homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. The schedule, though, could work in their favor. The cumulative winning percentage of all the Warriors’ remaining opponents is .463, which is the lowest cumulative winning percentage any team in the Western Conference will face moving forward.
TEAM LEADERS
LOS ANGELES SCOUTING REPORT
The Western Conference playoff picture is as muddied as ever, and the Clippers are right in the thick of it. With a record of 30-26, Los Angeles currently sits outside the playoff picture in ninth, a half-game behind New Orleans in eighth, but only 3.5 games behind San Antonio in third. However, they also sit only one game ahead of the Jazz, who are the hottest team in the league, having won 11 in a row. The Clippers made a monumental trade prior to the deadline, sending Blake Griffin to the Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and draft picks. With Chris Paul being sent to the Rockets prior to the start of the season, center DeAndre Jordan is the only remaining player on the Clippers from that once vaunted trio, and he’s coming off a career-high 30-point performance in a win over the Celtics. Lou Williams was rightfully in contention for an All-Star spot, and he dropped 50 points against the Warriors in their most recent matchup. The Clippers won that game, and if the Warriors want to exact some vengeance in their final meeting of the season on Thursday, limiting Williams would be a great place to start.