The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, in a win-or-worry regular-season finale at Chase Center. The game will decide playoff positioning in the Western Conference, and for the Warriors, the math is simple.
Win, and they grab the No. 6 seed, skipping the Play-In Tournament entirely. Lose, and they drop to No. 7, facing at least one play-in game, and possibly a second if they stumble again. With so much riding on the outcome, Stephen Curry said the showdown carries a “Game 7 kind of vibe.”
“I don’t want to be too dramatic — it should be like a Game 7 kind of vibe.”
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 12, 2025
Steph believes the environment for Warriors-Clippers on Sunday should be tense 👀 pic.twitter.com/8O4TjdJMyz
Fans can watch the action live on ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area, or stream it via fuboTV. Golden State of Mind will also host a live Playback stream where fans can chat in real time.
To join, create an account on playback.tv, link your NBA League Pass, and enter the Golden State of Mind room. Enable push notifications to get alerts when the stream starts.
The Clippers come in with a six-game win streak against the Warriors, sweeping all three meetings this season. But that was then. Both teams have seen major lineup changes since their last matchup on Dec. 27.
Golden State now features Jimmy Butler, whose arrival has sparked a 23–6 run. On the other side, the Clippers welcome back Kawhi Leonard, who’s averaging 25.8 points on elite shooting over his last 10 games.
Kevin Durant blocked a Warriors trade, and it might’ve saved their season
The Golden State Warriors nearly pulled off a blockbuster mid-season trade to bring back Kevin Durant. But the deal fell apart when Durant reportedly declined to switch teams. That refusal, it turns out, may have been the best thing to happen to Golden State.
Before trading for Jimmy Butler, the Warriors had a strong offer lined up. The Phoenix Suns were open to sending Durant to the Bay Area, likely in exchange for Butler and other assets. But Durant wasn’t interested in leaving mid-season, and he shut the move down.
Why does nobody ever talk about Kevin Durant’s legacy? pic.twitter.com/x2jZd9trgm
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) April 11, 2025
That decision reshaped both teams’ seasons – just in opposite directions.
With Butler on board, the Warriors have surged. They’ve gone 23–6 since the trade and look like contenders again. Meanwhile, the Suns are unraveling. Despite having the NBA’s highest payroll, they’re now in danger of missing the playoffs.
By holding onto their young core and parting with only one projected late first-round pick, the Warriors got an All-Star without mortgaging their future. If the Durant deal had gone through, they likely would’ve lost multiple first-round picks and key young players.
The Suns, on the other hand, missed a chance to cash in. Instead of landing Butler and future assets, they may now be forced to accept less in any future Durant trade. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst notes that roster flexibility has become Phoenix’s main focus, especially with Durant entering the final year of his contract. His looming free agency could make other teams wary of offering much, knowing he holds all the power.
Durant could still shift the balance of the West if he joins another contender. But right now, his decision not to return to Golden State has helped them more than hurt them.
Given Butler’s impact, another run at Durant seems unlikely.
READ: Warriors’ Playoff Fate Hangs on Final Game, and Stephen Curry’s Thumb
