Point guard Steph Curry scored 35 points and center Al Horford hit four big time 3-pointers in Golden State’s fourth quarter comeback win to advance past the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament, 126-121 on Wednesday night.
Golden State overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. With 50.4 seconds left in a tie game, Curry hit a 3-pointer while falling back to give the Warriors a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Back-to-back steals from forward Draymond Green on the ensuing possessions and free throw shooting sealed the win. Golden State was 15-of-20 from the field and knocked down eight 3-pointers in the final quarter.
The win snapped the Warriors’ nine game losing streak in Los Angeles.
Forward Gui Santos and center Kristaps Porzingis each had 20 points for Golden State. Green finished the night with nine assists and four steals.
Los Angeles was led by guard Benedict Mathurin who scored 23 points with five 3-pointers. Forward Kawhi Leonard and guard Darius Garland each had 21 points.
It was a game of runs all night long as Los Angeles jumped out of a gate hot with a 12-2 run in the first quarter. Out of a quick timeout, the Warriors responded with a 12-2 to get back into the game.
Both teams traded punches with five lead changes in the opening quarter. Curry exited the game with about 2:40 left in the quarter but returned shortly. He finished the night shooting 52% from the field and made seven 3-pointers.
The Clippers led 31-22 at the end of the first quarter. Leonard took a seat on the bench for the first time at the start of the second quarter and Golden State capitalized with a 13-0 run. The Clippers answered as the shots began to fall to regain the lead.
Leonard had a big first half, showcasing his size and physicality with six rebounds and 14 points. The Clippers led 61-53 at halftime.
There were two ties and seven lead changes in a seesaw of a third quarter. It was an electric 16-point period for Curry who at one point, scored seven straight points to help keep the game within striking distance for the Warriors.
The Clippers were without Garland for a majority of the third quarter, who picked up his fourth personal foul with just 8:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Turnovers were an issue all night for the Warriors. Los Angeles scored 35 points off 20 Golden State turnovers.
Despite trailing for most of the fourth quarter, the Warriors refused to go away. Curry contributed clutch plays including the go-ahead 3-pointer late in the game. He scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half.
Al Horford knocked four 3-pointers down the line, drilling three-straight shots from beyond the arc at one point. Leonard was shut down in the fourth only scoring two points.
The loss marks the end of a miracle run for the Clippers, who overcame an abysmal 6-21 start to the year to make the play-in tournament and cap off the year with a 42-40 record.
Golden State advances to the next leg of the play-in tournament and takes on the Phoenix Suns on Friday at 7 p.m. in Phoenix.