The Clippers Edge the Warriors in Thriller 103-102
Los Angeles Clippers #4 Kobe Sanders (G) three point shot is being challenge by the Golden State Warriors’ #30 Steph Curry (G) at the Intuit Dome. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 January 5, 2026.
INGLEWOOD, CA – The Los Angeles Clippers dug deep to secure a 103-102 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. Despite being without star guard James Harden, who was a late scratch due to shoulder soreness, the Clippers leaned on a balanced offensive attack and a breakout performance from their rookie.
Kobe Sanders got the start and stole the spotlight, delivering a career-high 20 points in the absence of Harden. All five of Los Angeles' starting unit scored in double figures. Kawhi Leonard led the way with a 24-point and 12-rebound double-double. John Collins (18 points) and Kris Dunn (16 points) provided the necessary secondary scoring to keep pace with a resilient Warriors squad.
Head Coach Tyronn Lue praised the team's resilience and the growth of his rookie guard after the hard-fought win. "Kobe [Sanders] was huge for us tonight. For a young guy to step into that environment, with that kind of atmosphere, and produce the way he did—it shows his growth," Lue said.
The Golden State Warriors jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter. The Clippers locked in defensively and went on a 19-4 run over a span of nearly six minutes to take a 25-16 lead, establishing a momentum that would carry through the rest of the night.
Golden State Warriors #30 Steph Curry (G) pulling up for a deep-three point shot will being guarded by the Los Angeles Clippers #4 Kobe Sanders (G) at the Intuit Dome. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 January 5, 2026.
In the second quarter, the Warriors found their offensive rhythm behind play making from Draymond Green and scoring from Jimmy Butler. Golden State outscored the Clippers 32-24 in the period to erase much of the early deficit. The Clippers maintained a narrow 55-51 lead heading into halftime behind steady scoring provided by Kawhi Leonard and Kobe Sanders.
Los Angeles shot 48% from the field in the first half, while the Warriors, who struggled in the first quarter, shot 38% from the field.
In the third period, the Clippers came out of the locker room with heightened defensive intensity, specifically targeting Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry with frequent double teams. Golden State failed to record a single field goal for the final 8:04 of the quarter, allowing the Clippers to embark on a steady run that seemingly put the game out of reach.
In the fourth quarter, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ejected with 7:57 remaining. Kerr’s departure followed an irate reaction to a non goaltending call on John Collins, requiring him to be restrained by assistants before leaving the floor. The Clippers capitalized on the chaos, embarking on a 16-7 run to build a 13-point lead late in the frame.
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (F) going to the basket for a monster-dunk while several Golden State Warriors’ defenders are looking on. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 January 5, 2026.
However, the Warriors refused to fade. Behind 27 points from Steph Curry and 24 from Jimmy Butler, Golden State mounted a furious 9-0 rally to pull within striking distance.
The drama peaked in the final minute when Curry, who had hit back-to-back triples to trim the lead to one, fouled out of the game with 42 seconds remaining—his first time fouling out since 2021.
Kris Dunn calmly sank both resulting free throws, and despite a late defensive lapse that allowed Draymond Green to score in the lane, the Clippers held firm as a final 16-footer from Butler missed the mark at the buzzer.
Addressing the team’s ability to overcome their recent slide, Lue added, "We've talked a lot about mental toughness and sticking together when things get difficult. Tonight, when they made that late run, we didn't have that 'here we go again' mindset. We stayed strong, executed when it mattered, and found a way to win a tough one."
The victory provides a much-needed boost as they look to climb back up the Western Conference standings. They will look to carry this momentum forward as they continue head-on the road to New York City to face the Knicks, and the Brooklyn Nets.