Warriors Host Shorthanded Kings in Regular Season Finale

Stephen Curry's return highlights matchup between playoff-bound Warriors and injury-riddled Kings

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:19pm by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, multi-perspective painting depicting a basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. The players' forms are broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of vibrant colors including the teams' official palettes.The Warriors' championship experience and star power clash with the Kings' injury-depleted roster in a visually fractured, geometric interpretation of their final regular season matchup.San Francisco Today

The Golden State Warriors host the Sacramento Kings in the final game of the NBA regular season. The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, are looking to build momentum heading into the playoffs, while the Kings arrive in San Francisco decimated by injuries. Despite the Kings' depleted roster, the matchup promises an electric atmosphere at Chase Center as the Warriors aim for a dominant home victory.

Why it matters

This game holds significance for both teams as they prepare for the postseason. The Warriors need a win to snap a four-game losing streak and regain confidence, while the Kings are focused on developing their young talent with several key players sidelined due to injuries.

The details

The Warriors (36-42) are led by the elite scoring of Stephen Curry, who is expected to see increased minutes as he continues his ramp-up after a 27-game absence. The Kings (21-58), on the other hand, are currently missing eight primary rotation players, including Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, leaving the offensive load to rookie standout Maxime Raynaud and veteran DeMar DeRozan. The Warriors will look to utilize their small-ball lineups featuring Curry and Brandin Podziemski to exploit the Kings' depleted perimeter defense.

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 with a tip-off time of 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PT).
  • The Warriors are looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

The players

Stephen Curry

The Warriors' franchise cornerstone, who is expected to see increased minutes as he continues his return from a 27-game absence.

Maxime Raynaud

The Kings' rookie standout who has been a bright spot for the team during their injury-plagued season.

Domantas Sabonis

The Kings' starting center who is currently sidelined due to injury.

Keegan Murray

The Kings' starting forward who is also out with an injury.

DeMar DeRozan

The veteran guard for the Kings who will be tasked with leading the offense in the absence of several key players.

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What they’re saying

“We must take advantage of our opportunities and play with energy, even with all the injuries we're facing. This is a chance for our young guys to step up and show what they can do.”

— DeMar DeRozan, Kings Guard

“It's great to have Steph back on the floor. We know he's going to give us a huge boost as we look to build momentum heading into the playoffs.”

— Draymond Green, Warriors Forward

What’s next

The Warriors will look to secure the season series against the Kings with a win in their final regular season matchup. The team will then turn its focus to the playoffs, where they hope to make a deep run.

The takeaway

This game showcases the stark contrast between the Warriors' championship pedigree and the Kings' injury-plagued roster. While Sacramento's young players will provide energy, Golden State's star power and depth should ultimately prevail, setting the stage for an exciting postseason push.