NBA Play-In: Stephen Curry and the Warriors Eliminate the Clippers
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Golden State Warriors refused to go quietly! With their backs against the wall at the Intuit Dome, Steve Kerr’s squad pulled off an impressive feat by eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in this winner-take-all play-in game. The victory gives them one last chance to reach the playoffs, as they’ll face the Phoenix Suns on Friday for the right to be the 8th seed and challenge reigning champions Oklahoma City in the first round.
Stephen Curry once again proved his greatness when it mattered most. The future Hall of Famer finished with 35 points on 12/23 shooting, including a remarkable 7/12 from three-point range. Limited in his playing time due to a right knee injury, Curry scored just 8 points in the first half before exploding for 27 points after the break.
A Comeback Orchestrated by the Veterans
Trailing for much of the second half, the Warriors turned things around in a high-quality fourth quarter. Al Horford was huge off the bench with 14 points, hitting four consecutive three-pointers in the clutch moments. His three-pointer with just over two minutes left gave Golden State the lead for good.
Draymond Green put on a defensive masterclass, particularly against Kawhi Leonard, whom he shut down in the final minutes. With 4 steals and relentless intensity, Green embodied the Warriors’ defensive spirit when every possession counted. Leonard, who finished with 21 points, largely disappeared late in the game, scoring only a dunk in the closing seconds when the outcome was already decided.
NOT ON DRAYMOND’S WATCH 🚫
📺 @NBAonPrime pic.twitter.com/97QRGXz1Ya
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 16, 2026
Curry’s three-pointer with 50.4 seconds left gave the Warriors a lead they would not relinquish, holding on until the final buzzer. Kristaps Porzingis (20 points) and Gui Santos (20 points) also made valuable contributions, while Brandin Podziemski added 17 points to the team effort.
For the Clippers, despite 23 points from Benedict Mathurin and 21 points from Darius Garland, the season comes to a sudden end. The Warriors, meanwhile, press on in their playoff quest and will look to punch their ticket against the Thunder. Golden State had won three of four regular-season matchups against the Suns, including the last one in Phoenix on February 5.
Comments (0)