As the regular season is drawing to a close, every game has massive playoff implications, especially for teams hovering around the Play-In line. With the Warriors surging due to the acquisition of Jimmy and Steph leading the charge as well as the Clippers eyeing a late-season climb, look for them to capture key victories against the Rockets and Mavericks this weekend.
Golden State Strikes Gold vs. the Rockets
Ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Nuggets, the Warriors boast a 19–3 record when Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry share the court. Over an 82-game stretch, that projects to a staggering 70-win pace which would be the best in the league this year. Additionally, while the Rockets are comfortably out of Play-In territory and likely to secure home-court advantage in the first round, the Warriors find themselves in a far more volatile position. Just one win separates Golden State from the eighth seed and only two from the fourth. Every game is crucial as they try to avoid the 7–8 line and potentially steal home court from the Lakers.
Thanks to the NBA Cup, the Warriors and Rockets have already faced off four times this season, with Golden State taking three of those contests—including one on February 18th where Jimmy was in the lineup. With the stakes high and the Dubs clicking when it counts, all signs point to another win for Golden State.
The Clippers Tame the Mavericks in Primetime
The Clippers control their own destiny. With the season series already in hand against the Warriors, all they need to do is win out to slide into the top six and dodge the Play-In entirely. That’s easier said than done, especially against a surging Mavericks squad that has won three of its last four. However, Dallas hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record since February 12th and I don’t see that streak likely to end tonight. The Clippers themselves are red hot winning 8 of their last 11, notching multiple wins over playoff-bound opponents. Furthermore, Kawhi Leonard is rounding into form, scoring 20+ in each of his last ten games. If the Clippers are going to make a push, it starts now, and tonight, they’re ready to deliver.