Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers’ stunning 17-point comeback victory over Warriors 114-101
Mar 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives around Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers delivered a masterclass in resilience Monday night, overcoming a 17-point deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 114-101 at San Francisco. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 23 points in just 29 minutes, showcasing the efficiency that has defined his career.
Darius Garland made an immediate impact in his Clippers debut, contributing 12 points off the bench in nearly 23 minutes of action. The former Cleveland guard, acquired in the trade deadline deal that sent James Harden to the Cavaliers, had been nursing a toe injury before making his first appearance in a Clippers uniform.
Warriors’ early dominance crumbles in second half
Golden State appeared in control early, with Brandin Podziemski leading the way with 22 points, 20 of which came in a dominant first half that saw the Warriors build a 44-27 advantage. Al Horford added 17 points for the hosts, but their momentum would prove unsustainable against the Clippers’ depth.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Los Angeles flipped the switch. An Al Horford layup put Golden State up by 16 in the opening minute of the period, but the Clippers responded with a devastating 35-21 run. Garland’s 3-pointer with 3:09 remaining in the third pulled Los Angeles within 75-68, followed by a crucial steal and layup from Kris Dunn to make it a five-point game.
The Clippers entered the final quarter trailing just 79-77 and never looked back. A 9-4 spurt to open the fourth quarter gave Los Angeles an 88-81 lead they would never relinquish. Garland sealed the comeback with an 11-footer that put the Clippers ahead 82-81 for good.
Kris Dunn provided excellent support with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds, and seven assists. The Clippers’ bench depth proved decisive, outscoring their Golden State counterparts 52-41, with four reserves scoring in double figures including Bennedict Mathurin‘s 17 points and Jordan Miller‘s 12.
The Warriors struggled without key players, as Stephen Curry missed his 11th straight game with a right knee injury, while Kristaps Porzingis sat out his fifth consecutive contest due to what coach Steve Kerr called a « mysterious » illness. The victory moved the Clippers within 1.5 games of Golden State in their battle for eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
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