Late Three-Point Surge Sends Golden State Through
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome, surviving elimination in the Western Conference play-in tournament after closing the game on a decisive late run. The result keeps Golden State’s postseason hopes alive and sends the team into a win-or-go-home matchup for the conference’s No. 8 seed.
Trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter, the Warriors flipped the game in the closing minutes behind veteran shooting and disciplined defensive possessions. The victory carries major standings implications, as Golden State now advances deeper into the NBA’s final playoff qualification phase while the Clippers’ season ends.
According to match reporting from Reuters, Al Horford scored all 14 of his points in the final 5:37, burying four late three-pointers as part of a 27-13 closing stretch that turned the contest decisively in Golden State’s favor.
Curry’s Second-Half Control Changed the Elimination Stakes
Stephen Curry finished with 35 points and seven three-pointers, delivering the offensive control Golden State needed once the Clippers began to lose their defensive shape in the final quarter. His shot creation late in possessions helped the Warriors maintain momentum after erasing the deficit.
Golden State also received key support from Gui Santos and Kristaps Porziņģis, who added 20 points each, giving the Warriors enough secondary scoring to withstand heavy pressure in an elimination environment.
The Clippers appeared in control entering the closing stretch, but turnovers and missed rotations allowed the Warriors to dictate the pace over the final possessions. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, while bench scoring briefly kept Los Angeles in front before the late collapse.
Western Conference Play-In Picture Tightens
The dominant sports angle in this result is tournament progression. The win moves Golden State into the next stage of the Western Conference play-in, where the Warriors will face the Phoenix Suns for the final No. 8 playoff berth.
For the Clippers, the defeat ends a campaign that had recovered strongly from a poor start but ultimately stalled in the final elimination game. League progression rules make the loss season-ending, sharply raising the significance of Golden State’s comeback.
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This result also reinforces the Warriors’ reliance on veteran late-game execution, a factor that could shape their approach in the next knockout fixture.
Next Fixture Carries Full Playoff Consequences
Golden State now moves into a sudden-death matchup against Phoenix, with the winner claiming the Western Conference’s final postseason place. The late comeback against the Clippers provides momentum, but the Warriors will need another efficient performance under pressure to convert the play-in escape into a full playoff berth.
