Key players sidelined as Warriors battle Clippers.
The Golden State Warriors continue to deal with a long injury list, and with a key Western Conference matchup on the way, the timing could not be worse.
Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center carries major playoff implications for both teams, but the Warriors will once again be without some of their most important players when they take the floor.
Golden State enters the game at 31-29 on the season, holding onto the eighth seed in the Western Conference while the Clippers sit just behind them at 28-31 in the tenth spot.
The season series between the two teams is tied at 1-1, making this a rubber match with real stakes for both sides.
Both teams are fighting to stay in the playoff picture, and every game from here on out matters as the regular season winds down.
Curry's Knee Keeps Him Sidelined
The biggest name on the Warriors' injury report remains Stephen Curry, who is out once again with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, more commonly known as runner's knee.
Curry has not played since January 30 and has now missed 10 straight games, with the team going 4-6 over that stretch.
On Sunday, the Warriors announced that Curry will be re-evaluated in another 10 days, meaning he will miss at least five more games, including Monday's contest.
Before the injury, Curry was in the middle of another excellent season, putting up 27.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39.1 percent from three.
He has spoken openly about his frustration with the injury, saying that it has not gone the way he wanted and that the goal is to be healthy come playoff time.
The MRI on his knee came back clean with no structural damage, but the persistent swelling and pain have made the recovery slower than anyone expected.
What Changed Since the Lakers Game
Compared to Saturday's 129-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Warriors' injury report has shifted in a few ways heading into Monday's matchup.
Kristaps Porzingis, who was listed as questionable against the Lakers with an illness, has now been ruled out for his fifth straight game.
The big man has played just 17 minutes total since the Warriors acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, and he has yet to find his footing in Golden State.
Will Richard is a new addition to the report after suffering an ankle sprain during Saturday's loss.
Richard had been one of the bright spots for the shorthanded Warriors, scoring in double figures in three of his last four games before going down.
Gary Payton II has also been listed as questionable with left ankle impingement after being available against the Lakers.
On the positive side, Draymond Green appears to be good to go after being listed as probable with a back issue for the Lakers game.
Seth Curry remains out with sciatica, LJ Cryer is out as a two-way player, and Jimmy Butler III is done for the season after tearing his ACL back in January.
Clippers Bring Their Own Injury Questions
The Clippers are dealing with injuries of their own, though their list is shorter heading into Chase Center on Monday.
Bradley Beal is out for the rest of the season, and John Collins left Sunday night's win over the Pelicans after a collision that left him grabbing his arm, so his status is worth watching.
Kris Dunn also took an inadvertent elbow to the head late in the game, though head coach Tyronn Lue said afterward that Dunn was fine.
The big storyline on the Clippers' side is the expected debut of Darius Garland, who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in exchange for James Harden.
Garland has been out since January 14 dealing with toe injuries but is reportedly set to make his Clippers debut on Monday night.
If Garland plays, he will immediately change the dynamic of this game with his playmaking and scoring ability alongside Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season.
Without Curry and Porzingis in the lineup, the Warriors will lean on their supporting cast to hold down the fort.
Players like Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Moses Moody and De'Anthony Melton have all stepped up during this stretch, but facing a Clippers team that just won 137-117 over the Pelicans and could be adding Garland to the mix is a tall order.
Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET at Chase Center.