Stephen Curry’s Heroics Propel Warriors Past Clippers in Play-In Thriller
The Golden State Warriors kept their 2025-26 campaign alive on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, staging a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to stun the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 at the Intuit Dome. Led by a vintage performance from Stephen Curry, Golden State erased a 13-point deficit in the final frame to advance in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
Curry, who had previously contemplated shutting down his season after missing 27 consecutive games due to a swelling in his right knee that began in late January, proved why he remains a postseason force. He finished with a game-high 35 points, including seven 3-pointers. Curry was particularly lethal in the closing minutes, scoring 11 of his points in the final 9:27 and sealing the victory with a deep three-pointer in the final minute of play.
The win is a massive relief for a Warriors team that struggled significantly during Curry’s absence, posting a 9-18 record and sliding to 10th in the Western Conference. Now sporting a 37-45 record, the Warriors’ ability to persevere in this elimination game extends their hopes of a postseason miracle.
Even as Curry provided the offensive fireworks, the Warriors relied on critical contributions elsewhere. Al Horford was instrumental, hitting four 3-pointers in the second half alone. On the other end, Draymond Green delivered a defensive masterclass, blanketing Kawhi Leonard and recording four steals to shut the door on any Clippers comeback attempt.
“This is why Steph came back,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, defending the decision to bring the star back for the final stretch of the season. “Everyone out there who thought Steph should seize the rest of the year off — this is what he does. This is who he is.”
Draymond Green echoed the sentiment, noting the difficulty of the climb after Curry’s injury. “Most people would quit,” Green said. “Especially when you’re in a position like that — you leave [the lineup] in the seventh spot and you come back and we’re in 10th. Locked in 10th.”
The victory sets up a high-stakes showdown on Friday, April 18, 2026, as the Warriors travel to face the Phoenix Suns. The winner of that elimination game will secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and earn a first-round matchup against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
