Down by 17 points and looking completely lifeless in San Francisco, the Clippers dug deep and found something special in the second half. They outscored the Warriors 72-45 over the final two quarters to close out a commanding 114-101 victory that sent a real message across the Western Conference.
Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 23 points on efficient shooting while role players stepped up when it mattered most. The win reminded every team in the playoff race that this Clippers group is far from done and fully capable of beating anyone on any given night.
Let’s take a closer look.
Kawhi Leonard was the difference maker all night
When the Clippers needed answers, their star forward delivered every single time. Leonard finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals on 9-of-14 shooting. He also converted both of his free throw attempts and hit three big shots from beyond the arc. His efficiency in the second half was a major reason the Clippers found their rhythm after a dismal start.
Leonard’s performance was not just about the numbers. His calm presence stabilized the entire Clippers offense. Every time Golden State threatened to pull away again, he answered with a bucket, a rebound, or a key defensive stop that swung momentum back to Los Angeles.
A brutal first half that nearly broke the Clippers
The Warriors posted 31 points in the opening quarter alone, building a 17-point lead that had Chase Center buzzing. Los Angeles looked out of sync and could not get consistent stops on the defensive end. Everything the Warriors tried seemed to work effortlessly in those early minutes.
Brandin Podziemski was particularly unstoppable in the first half. He knocked down shot after shot and finished the opening half with 20 points on eight of his first 12 attempts. His confidence was high, his rhythm was locked in, and the Clippers had no real answer for him during that stretch.
The third quarter turned the game completely around
Los Angeles came out of halftime with a completely different energy, and it showed immediately. The Clippers outscored Golden State 35-23 in the third quarter, slowly chipping away at what felt like an insurmountable deficit. A Darius Garland three-pointer with three minutes left in the period pulled Los Angeles to within seven.
Moments later, Kris Dunn came up with a steal and a layup to make it a five-point game heading into the final frame. Los Angeles was down just two points at 79-77 when the fourth quarter began. The momentum had completely flipped in favor of the visiting team.
Darius Garland made a memorable Clippers debut
Garland played nearly 23 minutes off the bench and scored 12 points, including a massive three-pointer that ignited the third-quarter rally. Garland had been recovering from a toe injury and was only recently acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade that sent James Harden to Cleveland. Monday night was his first meaningful action in nearly two months.
His night was not without drama. He took a shoulder to the face from Moses Moody during a scramble for a loose ball late in the second quarter. Both players stayed in the game, and Garland showed toughness by continuing to contribute right through the discomfort. The Clippers will be encouraged by what they saw from him on debut.
Fun fact: Garland played just five games at Vanderbilt before a meniscus injury ended his college career. He still went fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The fourth quarter was all Clippers
That early burst in the fourth pushed the Clippers ahead 88-81, and they never surrendered the lead from that point forward. The Warriors made a few attempts to close the gap but were met with timely shots and locked-in defense on the other end every single time they pushed.
The final score of 114-101 flattered neither team fully. Los Angeles dominated the paint all night, scoring 62 points inside compared to just 36 for Golden State. That interior advantage was the foundation of the comeback, and it became completely unstoppable once the Clippers found their confidence in the second half.
A shorthanded Warriors squad could not hold on
Stephen Curry sat out for the 11th straight game with right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. Kristaps Porzingis missed his fifth consecutive contest with an illness that coach Steve Kerr described as mysterious. Rookie Will Richard was in a walking boot after spraining his ankle in a blowout loss to the Lakers just two days earlier.
Al Horford scored 17 points as a starter for Golden State and played well throughout the night. But without Curry directing traffic and Porzingis anchoring the frontcourt, the Warriors simply did not have enough depth to absorb the Clippers’ second-half surge. The Golden State has now lost five of its last seven games.
Fun fact: The Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield at the February trade deadline to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, but Porzingis played just one game before going back out with his mystery illness.
What this win means for the Clippers’ playoff push
The Clippers have been fighting to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture all season long. With Garland now healthy and integrated into the rotation, the team suddenly looks deeper and more dangerous than it did just weeks ago. This kind of comeback win can do wonders for a team’s belief heading into a crucial stretch of games.
The Clippers were scheduled to host Indiana on Wednesday with the full expectation that Garland would continue building chemistry with Leonard. Every win from here matters, and Monday night proved this group is capable of beating anyone when they play their best basketball.
TL;DR
- Kawhi Leonard posted 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on 9-of-14 shooting to lead the Clippers’ comeback.
- Los Angeles trailed by 17 points before outscoring Golden State 72-45 over the final two quarters.
- Darius Garland made his Clippers debut with 12 points, including a key third-quarter three-pointer.
- The Warriors played without Stephen Curry (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), and Will Richard (ankle).
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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