The Golden State Warriors will be striving to secure coach Steve Kerr’s 500th win in his coaching career on Wednesday as they bring their impressive form into a clash against the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco.

Kerr notched victory number 499 in a unique manner on Monday night, by observing the game from a distance of almost 6,000 miles after attending the funeral of former Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic in Serbia.

Kenny Atkinson took charge from the sidelines and masterminded one of the best team performances for the Warriors, with eight players reaching double figures in scoring during a 129-107 away triumph over the Utah Jazz.

Reflecting on the emotional challenges faced by the Warriors, Atkinson acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the team, particularly the distressing incident involving Milojevic during a team gathering in Salt Lake City last month.

The postponed game from that night has now been rescheduled for Thursday, marking the Warriors’ second visit to Utah in a span of four days.

“Winning helps,” Atkinson said of dealing with the emotions. “When you’re starting to go on a little bit of a win streak, you want more. So there’s that enthusiasm. We also know we’re behind (in the standings). So there’s a little bit of an edge to us. A positive edge.”

The recent win brings Kerr within striking distance of joining the exclusive club of NBA coaches with 500 wins. The New York Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau attained this milestone earlier in the season.

The Warriors have clinched five successive victories heading into the final game of their four-game series against the Pacific Division leaders, the Clippers. The Clippers have emerged victorious in two out of the three previous encounters between the two teams, all of which have favored the home side without any game being decided by a margin exceeding eight points.

Los Angeles had set their sights on ending the first half of the season with the best record in the Western Conference but suffered a setback in a 121-100 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Despite the loss, the Clippers maintain a comfortable lead in the Pacific Division, where the Warriors are engaged in a battle with the Los Angeles Lakers for the last spot.

The Clippers’ shooting accuracy dipped to 40.5 percent in the loss to Minnesota, marking only their third defeat in the last 13 games. Kawhi Leonard was a standout performer for Los Angeles with 18 points on 8-for-17 shooting, but he emphasized the importance of long-term growth post-match.

“It’s important just to get better and get every win,” he said. “If it seems like we’re trending up with our play, then that’s what matters and that’s the carryover you need into the playoffs.”

Shooting accuracy has been a key differentiator in the prior Warriors-Clippers matchups, with Golden State holding the edge in field goal percentage at 50 percent in their home victory, while the Clippers shot 48.9 and 50.6 percent in their respective home games, surpassing the visitors’ shooting percentages of 44.2 and 43.5 percent.

The Clippers rank among the league leaders in field goal percentage for the season at 49.3 percent. Nevertheless, the Warriors have been scorching the nets with a 48.9 percent overall shooting accuracy and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc during their current winning streak.

Another streak on the line on Wednesday is for Golden State’s Gary Payton II, who could make his third consecutive appearance after returning from a 16-game absence due to a strained left hamstring.

Payton has been impeccable since his return, going 5-for-5 against the Phoenix Suns and 4-for-4 against Utah, including successful attempts from downtown in both games.