The Golden State Warriors are heading into their most important game of the season with one major complication, Stephen Curry won’t be at full capacity.
Curry will be on a minutes restriction when Golden State faces the Los Angeles Clippers in a must-win play-in matchup on Wednesday night, according to ESPN.
Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed the decision, noting that Curry won’t be alone.
Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will all play fewer than 40 minutes in the must-win game.
It’s a risky balancing act for a Warriors team that can’t afford a loss. After finishing the season 37–45, Golden State barely secured a play-in spot, and another defeat would bring a disappointing campaign to an immediate end.
The matchup also comes just days after the Clippers took down the Warriors 115–110 in their regular-season finale, adding even more pressure heading into the rematch.
While Golden State is managing injuries, the Clippers appear to be getting healthier at the right time. Kawhi Leonard was rested late in the season specifically to prepare for this moment after putting together one of the strongest years of his career.
Meanwhile, Curry has been battling knee issues for much of the season, while the Warriors roster has been hit hard across the board. Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury earlier in the year, along with lingering issues for veterans like Horford and Draymond Green, has forced the team to carefully manage workloads down the stretch.
Kerr has been outspoken about the toll the schedule takes on players, doubling down on his stance earlier this year.
“I know this will not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it because it’s obvious we need to play fewer games — we need to take 10 games off the schedule,” Kerr said in March. “I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games.”
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