INGLEWOOD, California — In a classic display of postseason resilience, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors pulled off an electrifying 126-121 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, keeping their playoff hopes alive in the NBA’s Western Conference play-in tournament.
The 10th-seeded Warriors erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit, fueled by a vintage performance from Curry and a surprising late-game barrage from 39-year-old veteran Al Horford.
The Clippers seemed in control, leading 98-85 with less than ten minutes to play, but the veteran-laden Warriors relied on their championship DNA to orchestrate a 16-6 closing run:
- The “Curry Flurry”: After a slow start, Stephen Curry exploded for 35 points, 27 of which came in a dominant second-half performance. His seventh three-pointer of the night broke a tie with just 50.4 seconds remaining.
- Veteran Support: Al Horford proved age is just a number, hitting four critical three-pointers during the fourth-quarter rally. Kristaps Porzingis also contributed a solid 20 points to keep the Warriors within striking distance.
- Defensive Lockdown: Golden State’s defense, led by Draymond Green, held Clippers star Kawhi Leonard scoreless for almost the entire fourth quarter, until the final 16 seconds of the game.
The win keeps the Warriors’ season alive despite a rocky regular-season campaign that saw them finish with a 37-45 record and lose star forward Jimmy Butler to a season-ending injury in January.
- Next Stop, Phoenix: Golden State now heads to Phoenix on Friday for a high-stakes battle for the Western Conference 8th seed. The winner of that matchup will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
- Clippers’ Season Ends: Despite a 23-point performance from Bennedict Mathurin and 21 points each from Leonard and Darius Garland, the Clippers’ season comes to an abrupt end. This marks the first time since 2022 that Los Angeles has missed the playoffs.
The victory was particularly meaningful for Curry, who only recently returned from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury. His 16-point third-quarter outburst prevented the Clippers from pulling away earlier in the game.
“Never count out this group,” Warriors fans cheered across social media as the team secured its chance at the final playoff spot. With the momentum of a 13-point comeback and the hot hand of the greatest shooter in history, the Warriors head to Phoenix looking to complete their unlikely journey from the 10th seed to the official playoff bracket.