Clippers vs Warriors swung late when Stephen Curry delivered a 29-foot three with 51 seconds remaining, igniting a 16-6 run that completed a 126-121 comeback, as reported.
Curry finished with 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting and 7 of 12 from three, as reported, after an eight-point first half, and his late shot sealed the Warriors advance.
Kristaps Porzingis contributed a season-best effort for Golden State, scoring 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, making 3 of 6 from three, and adding five rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes, as reported.
Draymond Green delivered on the defensive end with seven points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals, and his two steals in the final 50 seconds played a decisive role, according to reporting.
Gui Santos scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting but also had five turnovers and struggled defensively against Kawhi Leonard, as reported, highlighting mixed outcomes for emerging Warriors pieces.
Golden State will travel to play the Phoenix Suns for the Western Conference eighth seed, with the winner slated to meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, as reported.
Implications For Both Teams And The Offseason
The loss leaves the Clippers facing uncertain offseason choices, including Kawhi Leonard's future, contract decisions for veterans and questions about roster direction, as reported.
The Clippers' draft capital situation grew more complicated, with the team set to own limited first-round picks over the next three seasons unless the Pacers' 2026 pick conveys, as reported.
The Oklahoma City Thunder own the Clippers' first-round pick and thus locked in a lottery selection for 2026 after the loss, a dynamic that offers the Thunder trade or draft leverage, as reported.
Porzingis's strong night increases his free-agency leverage, though his injury and illness history leaves his market uncertain, as reported, and the performance likely raised his value.
The Warriors benefited from coach Steve Kerr's season-long trust in Draymond Green, a strategy credited with producing key late-game defense and leadership in a high-stakes matchup, as reported.
Santos's three-year, $15 million extension drew scrutiny because his breakout scoring after the deal suggested his agent might have obtained a better contract by waiting, as assessed in reporting.
The Clippers will enter an offseason shaped by an ongoing league investigation, roster options and the May draft lottery, all factors that will influence whether the franchise pursues another run with Leonard, as reported.
