On Thursday evening at Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors face a critical late-season matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Fresh off a hard-fought 110-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors are dealing with another setback in their injury-plagued campaign: rookie contributor Will Richard is listed as doubtful and will likely miss the contest.
Richard did not play in Tuesday’s win against the Kings, and according to Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard, the Warriors will almost certainly be without him against the Lakers. The team also remains shorthanded with Kristaps Porzingis (illness) out for his second straight game, while Al Horford and Quinten Post continue to miss time. Stephen Curry and Gui Santos are both questionable, adding further uncertainty on the front end of a back-to-back that concludes with a road game in Sacramento on Friday. With only three regular-season games remaining, every available body matters for Golden State.
The absence of Richard represents a noticeable blow to the Warriors’ perimeter depth and defensive versatility. Selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Florida, the rookie has carved out a meaningful role in his first professional season. Across 67 games, Richard is averaging 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 47.4% from the field and 34.1% from three-point range. His efficient scoring has turned heads, including a standout 20-point performance that Real App noted as the most efficient by a rookie in Warriors history.
Before joining the NBA, Richard enjoyed a productive college career. After one season at Belmont, he spent three years at Florida, where he posted career averages of 11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 46.3% field-goal shooting and 35.5% from beyond the arc across 141 contests. In 2025, he helped lead the Gators to the National Championship, showcasing the poise and shooting touch that intrigued NBA scouts.
Currently, the Warriors sit at 37-42, holding the tenth seed in the Western Conference after winning four of their last ten games. They boast a solid 22-18 home record at Chase Center but have struggled to find consistency amid ongoing injuries. After hosting the Lakers, Golden State will wrap up the regular season against the Sacramento Kings and LA Clippers. The team enters the final stretch knowing they must win two elimination-style games in next week’s play-in tournament to advance to the playoffs and secure a 1-vs-8 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as noted by ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
This late-season clash with the Lakers carries significant implications for both sides, especially as the Warriors fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Without Richard—and potentially without Curry—the Dubs’ rotation will be tested once more. Fans will be watching closely to see if the veterans can step up and whether the young roster can overcome the mounting absences in what has become a grind-it-out push for the postseason.
The game tips off Thursday evening. For a Warriors team already operating with limited margins, every missed player feels like a potential disaster in the quest to extend their season.