LOS ANGELES — When the moment demanded greatness, Stephen Curry delivered once again. With the game hanging in the balance, Curry drained a deep three-pointer in the final minute before Draymond Green sealed the result with a decisive defensive stand, lifting the Golden State Warriors to a dramatic 126-121 victory over the LA Clippers in the NBA play-in tournament.
It was a performance that felt like a throwback to the Warriors’ championship years — a blend of clutch shot-making and defensive intensity from the core that once defined a dynasty. And on a night when their season stood on the brink, those familiar traits resurfaced at exactly the right time.
The Warriors’ path to victory, however, was anything but straightforward. Trailing by as many as 13 points with less than 10 minutes remaining, they appeared to be running out of time and options. The Clippers had controlled large portions of the game, executing efficiently on both ends and maintaining a comfortable cushion deep into the fourth quarter.
Everything changed the moment Curry checked back into the game.
From that point onward, the tempo shifted dramatically. Curry orchestrated the comeback with a mix of precision shooting and relentless movement, scoring 11 of his game-high 35 points in the final 9 minutes and 27 seconds. Each basket chipped away at the deficit, injecting belief into his team and unsettling the opposition.
His defining moment came in the closing stages, when he launched a deep three-pointer under pressure and found the net with trademark confidence. It was the kind of shot that has come to define his career audacious, precise, and delivered when it matters most.
While Curry provided the offensive spark, Green anchored the defensive effort. Known for his intensity and leadership, he stepped up in the final possessions, disrupting the Clippers’ attempts to respond and ensuring that the Warriors maintained control. His presence on defense proved just as crucial as Curry’s scoring at the other end.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was quick to highlight Curry’s impact after the game, emphasizing the significance of his return and influence. “This is why Steph came back,” Kerr said. “Everyone out there who thought Steph should take the rest of the year off — this is what he does. This is who he is.”
The victory keeps Golden State’s season alive, but the challenge ahead remains steep. They will now travel to face the Phoenix Suns in another high-stakes elimination game. The stakes could not be higher — the winner will secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup against the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For the Warriors, this win represents more than just progression. It is a reminder that even as the team navigates the later stages of its competitive cycle, the core of Curry and Green remains capable of producing moments of brilliance. Their chemistry, built over years of success, continues to deliver when the pressure is at its peak.
For the Clippers, the defeat will sting. After building a strong lead and controlling much of the game, they were unable to contain Curry’s late surge or find answers in the closing moments. The loss highlights the fine margins that define postseason basketball, where a single run can alter the outcome.
As the Warriors prepare for their next challenge, momentum will be on their side. Yet, with another elimination game looming, there is little room for complacency. If this performance is any indication, though, they remain a team capable of rising when it matters most.
On a night that demanded leadership and execution, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green delivered both, ensuring that Golden State’s season continues at least for now.