Age is just a number until you’re staring down a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter of a do-or-die game. On Wednesday night, Stephen Curry reminded the basketball world that he doesn't care about your brackets or the fact that he’s 38 years old. The Golden State Warriors walked into the Intuit Dome and snatched a 126-121 victory from the LA Clippers, effectively ending the Clippers' season and keeping their own postseason pulse flickering.
If you didn’t watch the first half, you didn't miss much from Curry. He looked sluggish, managing only eight points on a frustrating 2-for-9 shooting performance. But the second half was a completely different story. Curry exploded for 27 of his 35 points after the break, proving once again that he’s the most dangerous player in the gym when the lights are brightest.
How the Warriors pulled off the Intuit Dome heist
The Clippers had this game in the bag. Or they should've. With 9:53 left on the clock, Los Angeles held a 98-85 lead. The crowd was buzzing, and Kawhi Leonard seemed poised to close it out. Instead, the Warriors launched a 16-6 run that left the Clippers looking shell-shocked.
It wasn't just the Curry show, though he was the headliner. Al Horford, the 39-year-old veteran, turned back the clock by hitting four massive 3-pointers in the final frame. When you have two guys with a combined age of 77 leading a comeback against a younger squad, you know experience won the night.
Curry’s dagger came with 50.4 seconds left. Tied game, 29 feet out, step-back over the defense. Splash. That seventh three of the night didn't just break the tie; it broke the Clippers' spirit.
Key contributors who saved the season
While Curry takes the headlines, this win required a total team effort. The Warriors have been through the ringer this year. They lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending injury in January and finished the regular season with a mediocre 37-45 record. Yet, here they are, moving on.
- Kristaps Porzingis: He dropped 20 points and provided the interior presence the Warriors desperately needed to keep Leonard and Darius Garland from living in the paint.
- Al Horford: Scoring 12 points solely on those fourth-quarter threes was the definition of "clutch."
- Draymond Green: He didn't light up the scoreboard, but his defense in the final minute—including two massive steals—sealed the deal.
The Clippers, meanwhile, will be left wondering how they let this slip away. Bennedict Mathurin led them with 23 points, and Darius Garland added 21, but they couldn't find a bucket when it mattered. Leonard was held scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final 16 seconds. That's a defensive masterclass by Golden State.
The road ahead for the Golden State Warriors
This win was only half the battle. Because the Warriors are the 10th seed, they have to win two play-in games to actually make the first round of the playoffs.
Their next stop is Phoenix. They’ll face the Suns on Friday night. The winner of that game gets the "reward" of facing the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. It’s a brutal path, but after watching Curry drop 35 on the Clippers, I wouldn't bet against them.
The Warriors are playing with house money now. They’ve survived a knee injury that sidelined Curry for 27 games and a season that felt like a slow-motion wreck at times. If they can get past Kevin Durant and the Suns, they’ll be the most dangerous eighth seed in recent memory.
If you're looking to follow the next game, keep an eye on the transition defense. The Suns will try to run the Warriors off the floor, and Golden State can't afford another slow start like the one we saw in Inglewood. They need Curry to be "Second-Half Steph" from the opening tip.
Pack your bags for Phoenix. This ride isn't over yet.
