The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday, April 15 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood to advance in the NBA play-in tournament.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 35 points, including seven three-pointers, as Golden State erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Curry scored 27 of his points in the second half after managing only eight points on 2-for-9 shooting in the opening two quarters.
The Warriors guard delivered a decisive stretch in the third quarter, scoring 16 points in six minutes to keep Golden State within reach.
Golden State completed the comeback with a 16-6 run to close the game and overturn a 98-85 Clippers lead with 9:53 remaining.
Al Horford played a key role off the bench, hitting four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to stabilize the Warriors’ offense during the rally.
His fourth triple gave Golden State a 117-115 advantage with 2:12 left, shifting momentum in the closing minutes.
Curry then hit his seventh three-pointer to break a 121-121 tie with 50.4 seconds remaining, giving the Warriors a lead they did not relinquish.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and five assists, while Draymond Green contributed 7 points and 9 assists along with defensive pressure and playmaking.
The Clippers were led by Kawhi Leonard with 21 points, while Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 and Darius Garland added 21 points and 8 assists.
Los Angeles led for most of the fourth quarter but went scoreless for long stretches as Golden State tightened its defense late.
The Clippers finished the regular season 42-40 and missed the playoffs, ending a postseason streak that began in 2022.
Golden State’s win came despite a 37-45 regular season record and the season-long absence of Jimmy Butler after his January injury.
The Warriors will now face the Phoenix Suns on Friday, with the winner advancing to meet the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Golden State continues its postseason push behind Curry and a veteran core that has reached multiple deep playoff runs in recent seasons.
