It is mid-January, and if you are a Dubs fan, you probably have the schedule pulled up on your phone every other day. The Western Conference is a complete bloodbath right now. Honestly, it feels like every single night determines whether the Warriors stay in that top-eight mix or slip into the precarious territory of the Play-In Tournament. After a solid 136–116 win against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, the energy at Chase Center is high, but the schedule makers aren't doing Steve Kerr any favors this month.
If you’re wondering who do the Golden State Warriors play next, get ready for a heavy dose of Eastern Conference challengers and a grueling road trip that might just define their season.
The Immediate Slate: Miami and Toronto Come to Town
The Warriors are currently sitting at 24–19. Not bad, but not comfortable. They’ve managed to put together a three-game winning streak at home, and they’ll need to protect that home floor with everything they’ve got.
On Monday, January 19, the Miami Heat (22–20) roll into San Francisco. Miami is basically the Eastern Conference version of the Warriors—gritty, well-coached, and led by a veteran core that refuses to go away. This is the second and final meeting between these two this season. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM local time (10:00 PM ET). If you're watching from home, you can catch it on NBC Sports Bay Area or FanDuel Sports Network Sun if you're in the Florida market.
The very next night, Tuesday, January 20, is a back-to-back. The Toronto Raptors are in town. Back-to-backs are always a "kinda" scary situation for a veteran team like the Warriors. You never really know if Kerr will opt to rest some of the older legs, but with the standings this tight, every win is a premium. The Raptors aren't the juggernaut they were in 2019, but they play fast, and that can be a nightmare on the second night of a back-to-back.
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Heading Out: The Texas and Minnesota Gauntlet
Once the short home stand ends, the Warriors pack their bags for a four-game road trip that looks brutal on paper.
First stop: Dallas. On Thursday, January 22, the Warriors play the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Luka Dončić is... well, he’s Luka. The Warriors beat them on Christmas Day (126–116), so you know Dallas has that game circled for revenge.
Then it gets even weirder. The schedule has the Warriors playing the Minnesota Timberwolves twice in a row in Minneapolis.
- Saturday, January 24 at 4:30 PM
- Monday, January 26 at 8:30 PM
Playing the same team twice in three days on their home court is sort of like a mini-playoff series. It’s a chess match. The Wolves have been one of the toughest defensive teams in the league this year, and dealing with their length in back-to-back games is a massive physical ask for Steph and the crew.
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Who Do the Golden State Warriors Play to Close Out January?
To wrap up the month, the Warriors hit Salt Lake City on Wednesday, January 28, to face the Utah Jazz. It’s a high-altitude game, which usually means tired legs in the fourth quarter. Finally, they head back to the Bay to host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, January 30.
On paper, that Detroit game should be a "get right" game, but in the modern NBA, you can't sleep on anyone. Especially not after a long flight back from Utah.
Tracking the Standings and Playoff Implications
Right now, the Warriors are 8th in the West. That’s the "danger zone."
The gap between the 5th seed and the 10th seed is basically a couple of bad nights. If you look at the numbers, Golden State has been solid at home (16–6) but they’ve struggled to find that same rhythm on the road. This upcoming stretch against Dallas and Minnesota is going to tell us if this team is a true contender or just a middle-of-the-pack squad fighting for survival.
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Experts like those over at Basketball-Reference suggest the Warriors are on pace for about 47 wins. In the West, 47 wins might get you the 6th seed, or it might get you a one-and-done trip to the Play-In. It’s that close.
Watching the Games: How to Catch the Action
If you are trying to figure out where to watch, most local games are on NBC Sports Bay Area. For the big national matchups—like that Dallas game—you'll want to check TNT or ESPN.
For the fans who like to be there in person, tickets for the Miami and Toronto games are still hovering around the $50–$60 mark for the nosebleeds, which isn't terrible for Chase Center. But if you're looking at the Lakers game in late February? Better start saving now. Those tickets are already pushing $350 for the cheap seats.
Key Storylines to Watch
There are a few things that could change the answer to "how well the Warriors play" during this stretch:
- Health: We saw LaMelo Ball put up 27 on the Warriors recently, showing that even a team with a losing record can push Golden State if the perimeter defense isn't locked in.
- Bench Production: The Warriors' bench has been a roller coaster. They need guys like Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga to be consistent scoring threats while Steph is on the sideline catching his breath.
- The Road Woes: Can they win at least two of the four games on this upcoming trip? If they go 1–3 or 0–4, the vibes in the Bay are going to get very dark, very fast.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay on top of the schedule, the best move is to sync the official Warriors calendar to your phone. Check the injury reports about two hours before tip-off; in 2026, the "Late Scratch" has become an art form, and you don't want to settle in for a game only to realize the starters are wearing hoodies on the bench. If you're planning on going to a game, the Detroit Pistons matchup on the 30th is likely your best bet for "affordable" tickets before the schedule gets much tougher in February with visits from the Celtics and Nuggets. Keep an eye on the defensive rating during the Minnesota double-header—that's the real litmus test for this roster's playoff ceiling.