When the Golden State Warriors rolled into the Intuit Dome on January 5, 2026, to face the Los Angeles Clippers, there was a sense of cautious optimism swirling around both teams. The Warriors, sitting at 19-17 on the season, had quietly strung together six wins in their last eight outings, building up some much-needed momentum. The Clippers, meanwhile, were struggling at 12-22, hampered by injuries and roster uncertainty, but still boasting the star power of James Harden—if he could suit up.
Tipoff was set for 10:00 p.m. ET, with fans tuning in via Peacock and NBC Sports Bay Area. The Warriors entered the contest as 2.5 to 3.5-point favorites, depending on the sportsbook, and the over/under hovered around 223 to 223.5 points. Oddsmakers pegged Golden State as a -140 favorite on the moneyline, while Los Angeles was a +120 underdog, suggesting a competitive matchup despite the Clippers' woes.
Golden State’s recent surge was all the more impressive given their relatively clean bill of health. The only Warrior on the injury report was Seth Curry, sidelined with left sciatic nerve irritation—a minor setback considering he’d only appeared in two games this season. The rest of the roster was ready to go, a rarity in the grind of the NBA’s winter months. As one Warriors insider put it, "They’ve got a healthy squad going into the Intuit Dome." That kind of stability has been elusive for many teams this year, and it’s a big reason for the Warriors’ recent success.
The Clippers, on the other hand, were beset by absences. Chris Paul, though technically still on the roster, was not with the team—a lingering saga from his contentious exit. Bradley Beal, the marquee offseason acquisition, had played just six games before suffering a season-ending hip fracture. Bogdan Bogdanović, in the midst of the worst campaign of his nine-year career, was out with a hamstring injury and had missed five straight contests. Derrick Jones Jr., who’d emerged as a key contributor, was also unavailable with a right knee sprain and wouldn’t return until after the All-Star break. The only bit of good news? Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser was probable after an illness, but with Ivica Zubac back in the rotation, his minutes were likely to be limited.
And then there was the Harden question. The former MVP was listed as questionable with right shoulder soreness, threatening to miss his third game of the year. Harden has been a bright spot amid the Clippers’ struggles, averaging 25.7 points and 8.0 assists per game—good for 14th in the league in scoring. His availability, or lack thereof, loomed large over the game’s outlook. As the pregame reports noted, "It will be a huge break for the Dubs if Harden misses his third game of the year."
On the other side, Stephen Curry continued to dazzle, ranking ninth in the NBA with 28.8 points per game. The Warriors’ offense has been humming, and Curry’s leadership has been as vital as ever. But it’s not just the scoring that’s made the difference. Draymond Green, often the team’s emotional barometer, was highlighted by analysts as a key to the matchup. The best bet for the night, according to several sports betting outlets, was for Green to go over 16.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists—a mark he was projected to surpass with 19.9. "We should see Green play 27-28+ minutes for the Warriors tonight, and as a result, he projects well in this spot," one analyst observed.
With the Warriors favored by a modest margin and the over/under set at a tick above the league average, bettors and fans alike anticipated a high-scoring affair. Golden State had gone over the total line in 24 of their 36 games (a whopping 66.7%), while the Clippers had done so in 18 of 34 (52.9%). The average points per game in Warriors contests was 229.9, well above the night’s 223.5-point threshold. "Golden State and its opponents have gone over the current 223.5-point total in 24 of 36 games this season," USA TODAY Sports noted, underscoring the team’s penchant for shootouts.
Adding to the intrigue was the same-game parlay action swirling around the contest. One particularly popular parlay—taking the spread, the total, and Jimmy Butler under 19.5 points—promised a $58.14 payout on a $10 bet. While Butler wasn’t on the court for this one, his prop line was still part of the broader NBA betting landscape, a reminder of just how interconnected the league’s narratives have become for fans and gamblers alike.
For the Clippers, the night was as much about survival as it was about victory. Missing so many key contributors, they leaned heavily on Harden (if healthy), Zubac, and a patchwork supporting cast. The absence of Beal, Paul, Bogdanović, and Jones Jr. left the team thin on both ends of the floor, and coach Tyronn Lue had his work cut out for him trying to cobble together effective lineups. The promising rookie Niederhäuser, while available, was unlikely to see extended minutes given the return of Zubac.
The Warriors, meanwhile, viewed the matchup as a springboard. With eight straight home games looming after this road trip, a win in Inglewood would set them up nicely for a sustained push up the Western Conference standings. "If they can beat the LA Clippers on the road, they’ll enter a soft part of the schedule with some momentum, and a chance to make something of a run," a Warriors blogger wrote, capturing the team’s mindset heading into the night.
As the teams took the floor, all eyes were on the stars. Would Curry light up the scoreboard once again? Could Harden shake off his shoulder troubles and keep the Clippers competitive? And would Draymond Green’s all-around game swing the outcome in the Warriors’ favor?
With the action ongoing and both teams fighting for crucial wins in a crowded Western Conference, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Warriors’ quest to stay hot and the Clippers’ battle to weather the storm made for compelling theater under the bright lights of the Intuit Dome. As the game unfolded, fans and analysts alike were left to wonder: could Golden State seize the opportunity, or would the undermanned Clippers pull off a surprise?
Whatever the final result, one thing was clear—the Warriors and Clippers delivered another chapter in their California rivalry, one that kept NBA fans glued to their screens and the Western Conference playoff picture as unpredictable as ever.
