INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stephen Curry mesmerized every spectator at Intuit Dome Wednesday night, draining seven three-pointers on his way to 35 points in a performance that showcased his legendary shooting prowess.
When the fourth quarter arrived in this must-win contest, Draymond Green stepped up defensively, completely neutralizing Kawhi Leonard and limiting one of basketball’s premier scorers.
Though Curry and Green have achieved everything possible during their 14-season partnership that includes four NBA titles, Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers was simply a play-in contest — the prize being a trip to Phoenix following a difficult regular season that saw Golden State finish 10th in the Western Conference, eight games under .500.
Yet both the manner and quality of this 126-121 rally victory brought back memories of the Warriors’ championship dynasty.
The remaining core players who experienced the entire championship run were excited to recapture that magic.
“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a play-in game. I don’t care. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.”
Curry expressed it more directly: “That’s what you live for right there.”
Golden State erased a 13-point fourth-quarter disadvantage thanks to Curry’s brilliance, as he tallied 27 points after halftime. While Curry handled the offensive load, Green dominated defensively by completely containing Leonard, who remained scoreless in the final period until the game was essentially decided.
The Warriors received excellent production from two recent additions. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 20 points, five rebounds and five assists while making several crucial plays — and 39-year-old Al Horford stunned the crowd by connecting on four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, playing just his third game after missing a month due to a strained right calf.
Curry’s decisive three-pointer broke the deadlock, sending him tumbling into the front row of Clippers supporters as the shot found its mark with 50 seconds remaining. The superstar was appearing in only his fifth game since returning from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, proving why he dismissed suggestions to end his season early.
“This is what you work all year for, all summer, offseason,” Curry said. “We’re not guaranteed a (playoff) series yet, but these nights make everything worth it, because you feel the anxiety of having to perform when the lights are bright, do-or-die game. … Considering how our season has gone, all the injuries and all that, for us to play the way we did tonight was special.”
Green failed to score in the final quarter, but the Warriors praised their defensive anchor for neutralizing Leonard, whose performance against Toronto in the 2019 NBA Finals remains a sore subject for Golden State supporters.
With Green shadowing his every movement, Leonard managed just two fourth-quarter shot attempts. Leonard ended with 21 points while having minimal influence on the outcome compared to his typical impact.
Leonard acknowledged Green as a “Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up.”
Green believed the Warriors could compete for a championship entering this season, but circumstances prevented that outcome. Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending injury in January, Moses Moody was hurt in March, and Golden State concluded the regular season with a 5-15 collapse that produced their worst full-season record since 2012.
However, after defeating Los Angeles, Golden State sits one victory away from reaching the playoffs regardless. Even for Warriors who have captured every possible prize, the opportunity to accomplish something unexpected remains appealing.
“I know we’re not satisfied,” Curry said. “We want to go to Phoenix and guarantee a playoff series against OKC. That’s the next goal, but for us to lock in on just 48 minutes, figure out how to get a win, knowing that the game was not going to be perfect, we were all pretty committed to that. The eight guys that got on the floor all had a part in making it happen.”
