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The Golden State Warriors have been on a collision course with the 2026 play-in tournament for a long time. They’ve occupied one of the 7-10 spots in the Western Conference for most of the season, but for the first few months held visions of rising into the top six. Jimmy Butler
III’s ACL injury saw those dreams come to a heartbreaking halt, and Steph Curry’s ensuing runner’s knee injury has sent the Dubs in a downward spiral. But they had banked enough wins — and the cellar dwellers in the West had banked enough losses — that their spot in the play-in tournament was all but assured.
Even with their recent skid, the Warriors are a full 9.5 games ahead of the first team out. With just 14 games left to play, you can be assured that the Dubs will have an 83rd game this season.
But will they have an 84th? And an 85th? That’s the real question.
If the season ended today, the Warriors would host the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the play-in tournament. If they won that game, they’d go on the road to play the loser of a game between the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns. The odds would not favor the Warriors getting out of that tourney, but if Curry and Kristaps Porziņģis are healthy — two very large “ifs,” admittedly — I wouldn’t bet against them.
What would really help Golden State is if they could rise up a spot, and pass the Clippers in the play-in standings. They’re just one game behind LA presently, so that’s very much in play, especially if Curry returns soon.
So what do you think, Dub Nation. Will we see the Warriors advance to the honest-to-goodness playoffs, and get a seven-game series with one of the West’s elite? Or will they fizzle and burn in the play-in tournament?
