The Los Angeles Clippers just found out the hard way that a 13-point lead against Stephen Curry isn't actually a lead. It’s just a suggestion. In a brutal 126-121 play-in tournament loss, the Clippers watched their postseason dreams evaporate at the hands of a 38-year-old who refuses to act his age.
If you’re looking for a complex tactical explanation for why the Clippers are headed home while the Warriors pack for Phoenix, don’t bother. It came down to one man scoring 27 of his 35 points in the second half. Curry looked like he was playing in 2016, not 2026. He was hobbled by a bad right knee, yet he still managed to drill five triples in the second half, including the tie-breaker with 50 seconds left that essentially turned out the lights at Intuit Dome.
The Fourth Quarter Meltdown
The Clippers held a 98-85 advantage with less than ten minutes to play. For a team with Kawhi Leonard and veteran depth, that should be a lock. Instead, the offense turned into a stagnant mess of contested mid-rangers and careless turnovers. Kawhi Leonard, who finished with 21 points, was held completely scoreless in the fourth quarter until a meaningless bucket in the final seconds.
Draymond Green took the assignment of erasing Leonard and executed it to perfection. He forced a crucial steal near half-court late in the game that swung the momentum for good. While the Clippers tightened up, the Warriors’ "Old Guard" played loose. Al Horford, at 39 years old, looked like he found a time machine, hitting four massive three-pointers in the final frame.
The Clippers didn't just lose to a better shooter; they lost to a team that understood the desperation of the moment better than they did. Golden State ended the game on a 16-6 run. That’s not a fluke—it’s a collapse.
By the Numbers
- 35: Points for Steph Curry, with 27 coming after halftime.
- 0: Points for Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter until 16 seconds remained.
- 13: The peak lead the Clippers surrendered in the final period.
- 4-of-4: Al Horford's perfect shooting from deep in the fourth quarter.
What Happened to James Harden
James Harden’s disappearance in high-stakes moments is becoming a tired script. While Bennedict Mathurin tried to keep the ship afloat with 23 points and Darius Garland chipped in 21, the Clippers needed their stars to be stars. Harden struggled to find a rhythm against a Warriors defense that dared anyone else to beat them.
The Clippers' season ends with a 42-40 record and a whole lot of questions. They had a strong second half of the year, but none of that matters when you can’t close out a play-in game on your home floor. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and with an aging roster, the window isn't just closing—it's slamming shut.
The Warriors Aren't Done Yet
For Golden State, this win was a "beautiful display of competitive will," as Steve Kerr put it. They went 37-45 in the regular season. They lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending injury in January. They shouldn't be here, yet here they are.
They now head to Phoenix for a do-or-die game on Friday. The winner gets the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. If Curry plays like he did in the second half tonight, nobody in the Western Conference is going to want to see them in the first round.
If you're the Clippers, you've got to look in the mirror and decide if this core is worth one more run. Because right now, "Clippers Basketball" is synonymous with "almost." And "almost" doesn't get you a ring.
Clean out your lockers, LA. It’s over.
