Curry's 35 Points and a Fourth-Quarter Masterclass Send Warriors Past Clippers in Play-In

Golden State just showed everyone why you never count them out. Stephen Curry torched the LA Clippers for 35 points, including 27 in the second half, as the Warriors erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 126-121 on Wednesday night and stay alive in the NBA play-in tournament. The 10th-seeded Warriors are now one win away from a playoff spot despite finishing the regular season at 37-45 and dealing with the loss of Jimmy Butler for the entire season back in January.

Curry's Takeover Mode Was Unforgettable

This was peak Warriors basketball. Down 98-85 with less than 10 minutes to play, Curry went into full takeover mode. His seventh 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left broke a tie and sealed it for Golden State, who finished their comeback on a 16-6 run. The 38-year-old Curry had already put on a clinic in the third quarter alone, scoring 16 points in just six minutes to keep the Warriors close while the Clippers looked like they were about to pull away.

Curry's performance was even more impressive when you remember he only returned five games ago from a 27-game absence with a knee injury. The dude didn't miss a beat.

Horford and the Supporting Cast Stepped Up When It Mattered Most

Al Horford, at 39 years old, was absolutely clutch down the stretch. He hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone, with his fourth one putting Golden State up 117-115 with 2:12 left. Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and helped keep the Warriors in the fight. Even role players like Gui Santos chipped in, with his layup with 2:45 to play cutting the Clippers' lead to just one point at 115-114. This was a total team effort when it mattered most.

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 for LA but went scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final 16 seconds. Bennedict Mathurin led the Clippers with 23 points, while Darius Garland added 21 points and eight assists despite foul trouble.

What's Next for Golden State

The Warriors head to Phoenix on Friday with a chance to keep their season alive. Win that one, and they face defending champion Oklahoma City in the first round. The Clippers, meanwhile, finished 42-40 and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022, snapping their streak of 15 consecutive winning seasons. It was a brutal ending to what looked like a recovery story for LA, but Golden State's refusal to die is keeping their season very much alive.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.