Stephen Curry scored 35 points to propel the Golden State Warriors past the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday, effectively ending the Clippers’ season. It was a game defined by a recurring failure on the part of Los Angeles, a team that held double-digit leads seven different times only to watch the advantage evaporate.
The loss is a costly one.
Returning from a knee injury just 10 days ago, Curry struggled early, managing only eight points on 2-of-9 shooting in the first half. He spent the first two quarters searching for a rhythm while Kawhi Leonard controlled the tempo for the Clippers. But the second half belonged to the “Chef.” Curry exploded for 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including the critical three-pointer in the final minute that gave Golden State a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Curry’s second-half explosion erased seven Clippers leads
Los Angeles spent much of the night in control, but they couldn’t close the door. The Clippers led 61-53 at the half and continued to build cushions, yet they lacked the composure to stifle a Warriors team that refused to fold. Golden State’s resilience was statistically improbable; the team entered the night with an 8-33 record when trailing after three quarters this season.
A 12-2 run in the fourth quarter shifted the momentum entirely. Kristaps Porziņģis, making his postseason debut for the Warriors, provided the necessary bridge, scoring 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. His ability to stretch the floor and finish at the rim kept the Warriors within striking distance until Curry’s efficiency returned.
How the Warriors’ supporting cast managed the closing minutes
While Curry provided the scoring, the victory was built on veteran stability. Draymond Green took on the primary defensive assignment in the fourth quarter, successfully locking down Kawhi Leonard during the game’s most volatile stretches. Al Horford also contributed heavily, hitting a string of three-pointers that tightened the score when the Warriors were down 115-110 with less than four minutes remaining.
“The Warriors have stuck with this game,” analyst Candace Parker noted during the broadcast. “Unbelievable.”
The Warriors shot 15-of-20 from the field in the final quarter. Even without Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, the remaining core of veterans managed to outlast a Clippers squad that looked increasingly fragile under pressure.
The Clippers’ reliance on a few scorers proved fatal
Kawhi Leonard played like a star, but he didn’t have enough help. The Clippers’ offensive profile appeared one-dimensional once Curry became a functional threat. Darius Garland spent a significant portion of the game hampered by foul trouble, leaving the burden of scoring to Leonard and Brook Lopez, the latter of whom ended up as the second-most frequent shooter on the team.
Paul George struggled to find his mark, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting. When the game tightened in the fourth, the Clippers had no answer for the Warriors’ depth and versatility.
With a win over Orlando, Philadelphia takes the seventh seed
Earlier in the evening, the Philadelphia 76ers secured their place in the first round by defeating the Orlando Magic 109-97. Tyrese Maxey led the charge with 31 points, ensuring Philadelphia claims the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The 76ers now prepare for a challenging opening series against the No. 2 seeded Boston Celtics.
Orlando’s season remains in limbo. The Magic must now defend their home court Friday night against a Charlotte Hornets team that is coming off an overtime win over the Miami Heat. The winner of that matchup will take the No. 8 seed and face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Who do the Warriors face next?
Golden State will visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday in the next leg of the play-in tournament.
What is at stake for the Orlando Magic on Friday?
The Magic will play the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 8 seed. If Orlando wins, they will face the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs; if they lose, their season is over.
