LA Clippers Lose Heartfelt Play-In Battle Against Warriors
Warriors Stage Dramatic Comeback to Top Clippers in Play-In Tournament
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – In a thrilling showdown at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure a 126-121 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, propelling them forward in the NBA’s play-in tournament. Stephen Curry led the charge with a remarkable second-half performance, scoring 27 of his 35 points after halftime.
Curry’s pivotal seventh three-pointer broke a tie with just 50.4 seconds remaining, capping off a remarkable comeback for the Warriors, who entered the fourth quarter as the 10th seed. The team concluded the game with a 16-6 run, effectively stifling Kawhi Leonard, who remained scoreless in the final quarter until the last moments of the game.
This victory places the Warriors just one game away from securing another playoff berth, despite their challenging regular season record of 37-45. The team faced significant setbacks, including the loss of star player Jimmy Butler for the season in January.
The Warriors will next travel to Phoenix on Friday, with the winner advancing to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Kawhi Leonard contributed 21 points for the Clippers, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022. This marks only the third time in a streak of 15 consecutive winning seasons that they will not compete in the postseason. Bennedict Mathurin led Los Angeles with 23 points, while Darius Garland added 21 points and eight assists, despite dealing with foul trouble.
The Clippers held a 98-85 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play when Curry, alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who scored 20 points, initiated Golden State’s furious comeback. The veteran sharpshooter, who returned to action only five games ago after a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, lit up the scoreboard with 16 points during a dynamic six-minute stretch in the third quarter.
After Al Horford hit three key three-pointers down the stretch, Gui Santos’s layup brought the Clippers’ lead down to 115-114. Horford’s fourth three-pointer subsequently gave the Warriors a 117-115 lead with 2:12 remaining.
The Clippers transformed their season from a chaotic 6-21 start to finish at 42-40, securing the NBA’s longest active streak of 15 consecutive winning seasons. However, late-season losses to Portland pushed them to the No. 9 seed, which necessitated victories in both play-in games to advance to the playoffs.
Curry, after a slow start with just eight points on 2-for-9 shooting in the first half, showcased his resilience and scoring prowess in the latter stages of the game.
The game also saw referee Ben Taylor leave the court shortly after halftime due to injury, with Sean Corbin stepping in as his replacement.
