Garland is embracing the opportunity of getting to face one of the all-time greats when the Clipper face off with the Warriors.
Wednesday night's play-in game at Intuit Dome is win-or-go-home for both teams. The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors each know what's at stake. One of them advances and one of them goes home. Darius Garland is already thinking about the matchup he has on his hands with Stephen Curry.
The Clippers acquired Garland at the deadline, and since joining LA he's averaged 19.9 points and 6.3 assists per game. He's been the engine of this offense down the stretch. And on Wednesday, he'll be going up against a player who shaped the way he approaches the game.
Garland didn't downplay the moment when asked about the matchup. "It's pretty cool going against a top-75 guy like that. A first ballot Hall of Famer," Garland said. "The skill and the ability that he has, that affected me and the way that I play. It's super cool to see that on the other end. It's gonna be fun."
Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesWhat the Clippers Are Walking Into
Some guys might not want to give respect to an opponent like this. But Garland is showing that he has respect for his opposition while still not backing down from the challenge.
"Any time you play against a top-75 guy like that or a first ballot Hall of Famer or someone that you're inspired by or looked up to and watched when you're growing up, it's always super cool to go against him and go at him a little bit. I'm super excited about that, but my main goal is trying to win the game so that's all that matters to me."
Golden State is the 10th seed at 37-45, limping to the finish line without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, both lost for the season. Draymond Green is day-to-day with a back issue. Curry himself is just three games removed from a 27-game absence due to runner's knee, still working his way back into rhythm.
But Curry with limited reps is still Curry. In his first game back he dropped 24 points in 29 minutes against the Clippers in the regular season finale. The Warriors went 3-7 in their last ten games, and LA went 6-4 over that same stretch, but none of that matters when it's one game and the season is on the line.
Garland's Chance to Make a Statement
The Clippers won the regular season series 3-1 over Golden State and have taken both home meetings convincingly. They'll have that edge again Wednesday. Kawhi Leonard is listed day-to-day with an ankle issue, but the Clippers rested him in the finale and still handled the Warriors by five. This group knows how to beat this opponent.
Curry revolutionized the point guard position with his shooting and movement without the ball. Garland, while a different player entirely, is cut from that same cloth. He's a guy who can light up a defense from deep with the ball in his hands or off screens with defenders scrambling to find him.
Going against the player who inspired your game, in a winner-take-all environment, on your home floor. That's the kind of moment players remember. But Garland said it himself: the main goal is winning the game, and everything else is a footnote if the Clippers don't advance.