The Los Angeles Clippers held off the Golden State Warriors 103-102 on Monday night in a tense finish at Intuit Dome that featured an ejection, a rare foul-out, and multiple lead changes in the final minute.
Kawhi Leonard posted 24 points and 12 rebounds to anchor Los Angeles, which improved to 13-22 despite playing without James Harden, who was a late scratch due to right shoulder soreness. The Clippers received double-figure scoring from all five starters to offset uneven perimeter shooting.
Kobe Sanders delivered a career-high 20 points and played 36 minutes, while John Collins added 18 and Kris Dunn chipped in 16. Ivica Zubac controlled the glass with 11 rebounds and converted eight free throws.
Golden State fell to 19-18 and dropped its eighth straight road game against the Clippers. Stephen Curry scored 27 points but fouled out with 42 seconds left, marking his first disqualification since December 17, 2021.
Curry struggled from long range, going 4 for 15 from three-point distance, and finished 9 for 23 overall. Jimmy Butler matched Leonard with 24 points and carried much of the offensive burden late for the Warriors.
The final minute was defined by swings on both ends. After Curry hit back-to-back threes to pull Golden State within one, he fouled Dunn with 42 seconds remaining, sending the Clippers guard to the line.
Dunn made both free throws to push the lead to 101-100. Draymond Green answered with a drive to the rim, trimming the margin to one again with under 20 seconds to play.
Leonard missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, giving the Warriors a final look. Butler’s 16-footer bounced off the rim as time expired, sealing the Clippers’ narrow win.
Earlier, the game took a sharp turn late in the third quarter. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was ejected with 7:57 remaining after protesting a non-call on a potential goaltend, forcing his staff to restrain him as officials escorted him off the floor.
Los Angeles built separation early in the fourth, outscoring Golden State 16-7 to take a 94-81 lead. Leonard scored six during that stretch, while Collins added five.
The Warriors responded with a nine-point run, seven from Butler, to close the gap to 94-90. The game remained within one or two possessions the rest of the way.
Neither team found consistency from deep. The Clippers shot 10 for 29 from three, while the Warriors went 10 for 41 and finished at 38 percent overall.
Green, who briefly exited after crashing into the bench late in the first half, played through a rib contusion and finished with 12 assists while going 0 for 6 from beyond the arc.
Golden State hosts the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday to open an eight-game homestand. The Clippers begin a three-game Eastern trip Wednesday at New York.
