Steph expects 'Game 7 vibe' Sunday vs. Clippers
The Golden State Warriors are expecting an intense battle in Sunday's regular-season high-stakes finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, with the winner clinching a top-six seed in the Western Conference and the loser potentially falling to the play-in tournament.
"I don't want to be too dramatic," Warriors star Stephen Curry said following Friday's 103-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
"It should be like a Game 7 kind of vibe. You win, and you control your destiny on a guaranteed playoff series. If you lose, you roll the dice."
The Warriors own an 0-3 record in the play-in tourney.
"(It will be) like a playoff game," Warriors forward Draymond Green said. "Super intense. Two teams fighting for their playoff lives. Expected to be a very physical, high-intelligent, high-level basketball game."
Golden State also faces the added concern heading into Sunday with a potential thumb injury to Curry. The 37-year-old briefly left Friday's win after aggravating a right thumb issue from earlier in the season.
Curry said the new pain in his thumb affected his shooting "a little bit" against the Blazers. However, the Warriors announced that X-rays on the thumb came back negative.
"From what I know, just an aggravation," Curry said. "The same thing (as the earlier thumb injury), but hopefully it wasn't anything serious."
He added, "I just know it hurts right now, but I'll be all right."
A win Sunday would give Curry and the Warriors a week off to rest and prepare before Round 1.