Bold take: the Clippers showed resilience by overturning a 17-point hole and surviving a sparsely manned Warriors squad to claim a 114-101 victory. If you’re new to this, here’s what happened in clear terms. Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, playing a pivotal role as the Clippers erased the early deficit. The game marked a notable moment for Darius Garland, who joined the Clippers in a trade deadline deal that sent James Harden to Cleveland. Garland came off the bench to log almost 23 minutes in his debut with the team, scoring 12 points after nursing a toe issue earlier and then suffering a minor scare late in the second quarter when colliding with Moses Moody. Both players remained in the contest after the collision, an encouraging sign for a new integration piece.
Garland’s late-third-quarter triple pulled the Clippers within striking distance at 75-68, and Kris Dunn sparked a key stretch with a steal and a layup, narrowing the gap to five as the third period closed. Dunn finished with a stat line of 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while the Clippers shot 9-for-31 from long range, underscoring that their win came more from defense and timely plays than from three-point dominance. A 9-4 run to open the fourth period pushed L.A. ahead 88-81, setting the tone for the final stretch.
For Golden State, Stephen Curry was sidelined for an 11th straight game with a right knee injury. Brandin Podziemski led the scoring for the Warriors with 22 points, hitting a robust eight of his first 12 shots and three triples to reach a 20-point half for the second time in his young career. Kristaps Porzingis sat out a fifth straight game due to illness described by coach Steve Kerr as “mysterious.” Rookie Will Richard wore a walking boot after a sprained right ankle suffered in Saturday’s blowout loss to the Lakers. Al Horford contributed 17 points for Golden State, who have faced some trouble lately, dropping five of seven and nine of 14 overall.
In summary, the Clippers benefited from balanced contributions across the roster and a late push that overcame a sizable deficit, while the Warriors continued to be hampered by injuries and lineup instability. Up next, the Clippers welcome Indiana on Wednesday, while Golden State heads to Houston on Thursday to begin a three-game road trip.
Source: AP NBA recap and game notes
