It’s almost unfathomable to consider how much the Warriors have fallen. It was less than two full years ago that Steve Kerr’s group lifted the NBA championship for the fourth time in less than a decade. These days, they look anything but like champs. On Tuesday they battled as best they could, but fell short against the Suns, 119-116. L.A. is starting to find its rhythm. After about a month of figuring out how James Harden fits into their plans, they’ve won three in a row, most recently a 119-99 thumping of the Kings on Tuesday.

The NBA odds favour the host Clippers, estimating that they should win by -5.5 points.

Warriors vs. Clippers NBA Betting Odds

Golden State-L.A. matchups have an air of unpredictability about them. The last five contests have seen the winning side flipflop. Moreover, only the Warriors have managed a two-game winning streak over the last eight meetings. Since then the games have gone to the Clippers, the Warriors, the Clippers, the Warriors, and the Clippers again. The last time a road team won was over two years ago when the Warriors walked away victorious in Los Angeles.

Stephen Curry will keep on doing Stephen Curry things. Look no further than his 29.1 points per game and 42.2 per cent three-point shooting. The issue is practically everything else. The club is 10-13 – straight-up and ATS – possibly facing another suspension for Draymond Green, is a below-average defensive team (115.3 points, 20^th) and is outside the top 10 in scoring (115.6, 11^th). They’re a great rebounding team (second in the NBA) but it doesn’t appear to help much.

The Clippers are also 10-13 ATS, which should serve as a caution for betters, yet in their case, things are looking decidedly rosier. Like last year, the Clippers are an excellent defensive team, limiting opponents to only 109.3 points per match. Rivals are only making 45 per cent of their shots, food for fifth league-wide. It helps that Paul George is fourth in the NBA with 1.7 steals a game.

Golden State Warriors

There was a little bit of everything when the Warriors visited the undermanned Suns on Tuesday night. Lead changes, Curry hitting three-point shots galore (at least in the first half), another Draymond Green ejection, and a late Warriors rally that fell three points short, 119-116.

Arguably the most interesting part of the evening for Golden State was how well the bench played. Jonathan Kuminga (16 points), Dario Saric (15 points), Chris Paul (15 points), and Brandin Podziemski  (20 points) all kept the Warriors in the game, unlike most of the starters. It was a war of attrition, with a total of 30 turnovers committed, 15 by each side. To the club’s credit, they rarely know when to quit. A nine-point deficit with less than two minutes left became a two-point game with nine seconds on the clock. The Warriors now have to play a tough Clippers team whilst awaiting what the NBA has to say about Green’s latest ejection for slapping Jusuf Nurkic in the face while turning around.

Los Angeles Clippers

If the version of the Los Angeles Clippers that fans saw on Tuesday night is the one head coach Tyronn Lue can get to play here on out, then this is indeed a dangerous ensemble. The darling Sacramento Kings were in town, ready to continue their rise in the ranks but were outright flattened 119-99.

This was one of the Clippers’ best performances of the season, if not their very best. L.A. dominated the paint, scoring 62 points to Sacramento’s 48, and contested shots all night. A 95 per cent evening from the free throw line (20-for-21) will do wonders, especially when overall shooting is clicking at 52 per cent. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 31 points. James Harden did his part with a +26-point differential, two steals, and seven assists. Russell Westbrook’s self-sacrifice by becoming a sub is obviously paying off.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Warriors vs. Clippers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Warriors Team Leaders

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 26.43
Assists	Chris Paul 6.78
Rebounds	Draymond Green 7.24
FG%	Trayce Jackson-Davis 70.2
Steals	Chris Paul 1.21
Blocks	Trayce Jackson-Davis 1.12

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 23.72
Assists	James Harden 8.53
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.21
FG%	Ivica Zubac 64.9
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 1.63
Blocks	Ivica Zubac 1.22

GS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAC

Points	James Harden 21.17
Assists	James Harden 8
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.33
FG%	Daniel Theis 100
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2
Blocks	James Harden 1

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Clippers Team Leaders

GS

Points	Stephen Curry 26.43
Assists	Chris Paul 6.78
Rebounds	Draymond Green 7.24
FG%	Trayce Jackson-Davis 70.2
Steals	Chris Paul 1.21
Blocks	Trayce Jackson-Davis 1.12

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 23.72
Assists	James Harden 8.53
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.21
FG%	Ivica Zubac 64.9
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 1.63
Blocks	Ivica Zubac 1.22

GS

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAC

Points	James Harden 21.17
Assists	James Harden 8
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.33
FG%	Daniel Theis 100
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2
Blocks	James Harden 1

Injuries

Golden State

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Tues Knee - 13 / 04 / 24

Klay Thompson (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 04 / 24

Chris Paul (PG)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 13 / 04 / 24

Javonte Green (SG)

Ques Sun Rest - 13 / 04 / 24

Jonathan Kuminga (PF)

Ques Sun Pelvis - 12 / 04 / 24

Dario Saric (SF)

Ques Sun Knee - 12 / 04 / 24

Gary Payton II (PG)

Out Tues Calf - 11 / 04 / 24

Klay Thompson (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 11 / 04 / 24

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 24

L.A. Clippers

Terance Mann (SG)

prob Fri Leg - 02 / 05 / 24

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 14 / 04 / 24

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 04 / 24

Moussa Diabate (PF)

Prob Fri Hand - 10 / 04 / 24

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Prob Fri Hand - 10 / 04 / 24

Ivica Zubac (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Miller (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 10 / 04 / 24

James Harden (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 09 / 04 / 24

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 07 / 04 / 24

Daniel Theis (PF)

Ques Wed Thumb - 07 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Tues	Knee - 13 / 04 / 24	0-3	1-1-1	+ -
Green is tending to a right knee contusion, but it is expected that he will be active for the Western Conference Play-in tournament versus the Kings.
Klay Thompson (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 04 / 24	0-3	1-1-1	+ -
Thompson is dealing with right knee tendinitis, but it is likely that he will dress Sunday versus the Jazz.
Chris Paul (PG)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 13 / 04 / 24	0-3	1-1-1	+ -
Paul is nursing left hamstring tightness, but it is likely that he will partake in Sunday's matchup with the Jazz.
Javonte Green (SG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 13 / 04 / 24	0-3	1-1-1	+ -
Green may be held out of Sunday's clash against the Knicks for rest purposes.
Jonathan Kuminga (PF)	Ques Sun	Pelvis - 12 / 04 / 24	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Kuminga was absent from the last contest due to a right pelvic contusion, and it is uncertain if he will face the Jazz on Sunday.
Dario Saric (SF)	Ques Sun	Knee - 12 / 04 / 24	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Saric missed the previous match with lateral joint line pain in his right knee, leaving his status for Sunday's clash against the Jazz in question.
Gary Payton II (PG)	Out Tues	Calf - 11 / 04 / 24	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Payton II is managing left calf tightness, and he will not be in the lineup versus the Kings for the Western Conference Play-in tournament.
Klay Thompson (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 11 / 04 / 24	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Thompson was absent from the previous match with right knee tendinitis, but it is anticipated that he will be active against the Pelicans on Friday.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-4	3-1-1	+ -
Green missed the last game due to a right knee contusion, but he is expected to be available for Friday's clash versus the Pelicans.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 24	1-5	3-2-1	+ -
Green was lifted from the last game due to a back injury, but it is likely that he will dress for Tuesday's matchup with the Lakers.

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Terance Mann (SG)	prob Fri	Leg - 02 / 05 / 24	1-1	2-0	+ -
Mann is nursing a right lower-leg contusion, but it is projected that he will be active prior to Friday's showdown verses the Mavericks.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 14 / 04 / 24	2-5	2-5	+ -
Westbrook will not dress for Sunday's clash versus the Rockets as he will receive a day of rest.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 04 / 24	2-6	3-5	+ -
Harden is tending to right knee soreness, but it is expected that he will play against the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Moussa Diabate (PF)	Prob Fri	Hand - 10 / 04 / 24	3-7	4-6	+ -
Diabate missed the last game managing a hand injury, but he is likely to take on the Jazz on Friday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Prob Fri	Hand - 10 / 04 / 24	3-7	4-6	+ -
Westbrook missed the last game due to a left hand contusion, but he is expected to partake in Friday's showdown with the Jazz.
Ivica Zubac (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 24	3-7	4-6	+ -
Zubac is dealing with left ankle inflammation, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Wednesday's matchup with the Suns.
Jordan Miller (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 10 / 04 / 24	3-7	4-6	+ -
Miller was absent from the last match with a thumb ailment, but it is anticipated that he will be a participant in Friday's showdown versus the Jazz.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 09 / 04 / 24	3-7	4-6	+ -
Harden has missed the last two games due to right foot soreness, but it is projected that he will lace up on Friday against the Jazz.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 07 / 04 / 24	4-7	5-6	+ -
Harden is bothered by right foot soreness, but it is expected that he will be in Sunday's lineup versus the Cavaliers.
Daniel Theis (PF)	Ques Wed	Thumb - 07 / 04 / 24	4-7	5-6	+ -
Theis has missed the last two games with a left thumb sprain, and it is undetermined if he will take the floor against the Suns on Wednesday.