The Los Angeles Clippers staged a remarkable comeback from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure a 130-125 victory over the Golden State Warriors during Wednesday’s NBA action.
The Warriors’ defense, previously a stronghold, faltered, allowing Paul George and Norman Powell to exploit gaps effectively. Powell’s exceptional performance, highlighted by four 3-pointers in the final minutes, contributed 21 points to the Clippers’ score, outshining Stephen Curry‘s efforts.
“We lost control of the game defensively, and I don’t think we adjusted well enough as a coaching staff,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Despite Curry’s 41 points and a record-setting spree of 3-pointers, the Clippers rallied, led by James Harden‘s 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and George’s 24 points.
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The Clippers faced the challenge without Kawhi Leonard, sidelined due to a left leg injury, casting uncertainty over his All-Star Game participation. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, however, downplayed the severity of Leonard’s injury.
“I don’t think it’s serious,” Lue said. “He played through it last game. He was experiencing some soreness in the hip, so when the game got out of reach, we didn’t put him back in the fourth quarter to be smart about it.”
George and Powell’s late-game heroics reversed the game’s momentum, with Powell’s crucial 3-pointers edging the Clippers ahead in the nail-biting final minutes.
“I thought we let Steph get away from us,” George said. “So I thought once we locked in and keyed into those situations, we knew we had a chance.”
The match also saw tensions flare, with an altercation in the fourth quarter leading to technical and flagrant fouls and Lue’s ejection. Draymond Green‘s brief exit due to a hard fall added to the Warriors’ challenges but returned to play after being cleared of a concussion.
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This loss prevented Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr from achieving his 500th regular-season win, a milestone delayed by the Warriors’ squandered lead. Brandin Podziemski, despite a personal best performance, reflected on the team’s loss of focus and spirit during the Clippers’ comeback.
“When the score was 106-96 it kind of felt like we just stopped playing and kind of felt sorry for (ourselves) and during that stretch they made some tough shots,” Podziemski said. “I think we kind of gave up a little bit and then they started making the easy ones.”
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The Clippers enter the All-Star break with a significant win, aiming to carry this momentum into the season’s second half. Meanwhile, despite their recent winning streak, the Warriors face regrouping after this setback. The game highlighted both teams’ competitive spirit and set the stage for an intriguing second half of the season.
“Great vibe,” George said of going into the break on a high note. “There’s definitely momentum going into the second half of the season. So it was great.”
The Clippers return to action when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 22, while the Warriors will face the Utah Jazz on Thursday night before entering the NBA All-Star break.
