The Golden State Warriors injury mired, frustrating season isn’t over yet. Despite a 13-point fourth quarter deficit, the Dubs defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 and will play the Phoenix Suns for the eighth-seed in the Western Conference. It would be easy to argue that the Clippers were the better team on Wednesday night, leading for most of the game. But they didn’t have Steph Curry.
On one hand, it might have felt like a relief to Dub Nation for this season to finally be over. The Warriors
faced an avalanche of injuries, losing Jimmy Butler for the season just as they hit their stride and then facing insult to injury when Moses Moody had to undergo a devastating season-ending surgery of his own. Steph’s prolonged absence with runner’s knee led the Dubs to steadily fall in the standings. Even when he returned, Golden State’s losing ways continued. There are no logical championship hopes left.
Yet, the end to a season, even a disappointing one, only brings Steph Curry’s career closer to an end. It’s why he wanted to return from his runner’s knee. We all got to see his magic on display because he refused to give up. He had the basketball world transfixed. Steph has done it over and over since he first burst onto the scene at Davidson back in 2008.
No matter how dark or distracted NBA fandom can be by discourse and debates, nothing has unified everyone for more than a decade than Steph Curry with a basketball in his hands dancing on defenses.
The Warriors victory gifts us all a chance to maybe see a couple more moments like that from Steph this season.
Curry finished with 35 points on 12-for-23 shooting from the field (7-for-12 from three). He was 10-for-14 with 27 points in the second half alone. Despite some ugly moments, Gui Santos finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and a game-high +16 plus/minus. Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were the most important offensive sidekicks for Steph, though. Porzingis recorded 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. Horford had 14 critical points.
Benedict Mathurin led the Clippers with 23 points in 29 minutes, and was perhaps underutilized attacking weaker defenders. Kawhi Leonard finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, but committed 5 turnovers and made just one shot in the fourth quarter.
Golden State got off to a horrendous start, particularly offensively. The Clippers unsurprisingly did everything possible to force the ball out of Curry’s hands early and the strategy paid off. The Dubs fell behind 12-2 and would not lead in the quarter.
The Warriors were similarly quick to try and force the ball out of their opponent’s best offensive player’s hands. However, Leonard found his footing quicker and had a supporting cast seemingly more ready for the moment. At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led 31-22.
Porzingis chose an opportune time to have his best performance since Steph’s return. Porzingis led a 13-0 Warriors run with Curry on the bench to put Golden State ahead. The lead would not last for long, but it did help the Dubs continue to bide their time.
Steph finished the first half with just 8 points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field alongside 0 rebounds and assists. The fact that Golden State only trailed 61-53 was a sign that the Clippers were wasting opportunities.
The Warriors lack of athleticism and offensive creators was on full display against the Clippers length. At times, Santos looked overwhelmed in his first prolonged playoff-adjacent rotation minutes. Santos, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Brandin Podziemski all had uncharacteristic drops and made poor passing decisions. As a team, the Dubs committed 20 turnovers.
Yet, Draymond Green’s defensive effort was the Warriors savior. Leonard capitalized whenever he could get off Green, but Draymond kept the Clippers from every building enough offensive momentum to pull away.
Golden State also targeted Darius Garland, the Clippers dynamic point guard, on defense. He picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter. While he did not foul out until the game was largely decided, his weak defense was made even worse as he tried to avoid fouling out.
It seemed like every time the Warriors pulled within five points, the Clippers answered.
Curry exploded for 16 points in the third quarter, but Los Angeles remained largely in control.
Porzingis converted an and-one and a deep transition three on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to three, but Garland responded with an and-one and a stepback three to bring the lead back to 10.
The Clippers started the fourth quarter ahead by six and immediately went on a 5-0 run. A timely basket from De’Anthony Melton and a three from Santos successfully kept things from getting out of hand. A one-man press from Gary Payton II forced a Clippers turnover with 9:27 left in regulation, and Curry checked back in trialing 98-88. On his first possession, he knocked down an open three.
Then Al Horford emerged for his first signature moment in a Warriors uniform. The future Hall of Famer entered the game with 6:36 left in regulation. The Clippers led 108-99.
Horford made threes on three consecutive possessions. Two minutes later, Horford made his fourth triple of the quarter to give put Golden State ahead 117-115, giving the Warriors their first lead in the second half.
The good news came with some bad, however. Draymond seemed to hyperextend his knee on the next possession. As Brook Lopez went to the free-throw line (where he’d tie the game at 117), Green quickly hobbled to the bench, stretched, and insisted on playing through the pain.
Curry missed a three, but the Warriors forced a stop at the other end to give him another opportunity to break the tie. Leonard would not score in the fourth quarter almost entirely thanks to Green.
Curry and Green ran a two-man game as the clock ticked under a minute remaining. Curry tossed the ball to Draymond before faking a cut and spinning around his longest tenured teammate. Green knew what Steph wanted, left him the ball and Steph shot over two desperately chasing Clippers for a three.
The Warriors led 120-117 with 50.7 seconds left in regulation.
The Clippers called timeout, but that let the Warriors setup defensively. Draymond denied an in-bound pass to Leonard and his steal setup Podziemski for an and-one layup on the other end.
Golden State had it’s largest lead of the night (123-117) and Green stole the ball from Leonard again. Steph drew a foul and split the free throws to go ahead by 7. Green continued to lock down defensively and forced the Clippers to burn precious clock. They got a layup, but it was too much too late.
Somehow.
Someway.
The Warriors had won.
But we know the how and the way.
It was Steph Curry with enough scoring punch from his teammates and Draymond Green’s legendary defense.
It may not lead to a title, but don’t let that spoil the fun.
