The Clippers Season Ends in Heartbreak as Warriors Pull Away Late
Los Angeles Clippers #9 Bennedict Mathurin (G) shooting a jump shot at the free throw line while being challenge by Golden State’s #7 Kristaps Porzingis in the Play-In-Tournament. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 April 15, 2026.
INGLEWOOD, CA - The Clippers' season is over after dropping their Play-In game to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, 126-121.
Stephen Curry was simply unstoppable, dropping a game-high 35 points on 52.2% shooting and going 58.3% from three.
Bennedict Mathurin did everything he could for LA, putting up 23 points on a scorching 63.6% from the field and going 5-for-6 from deep. Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland each chipped in 21 points apiece.
"Not the way we wanted to end the season, but I tip my hat off to this group," Garland said.
The Clippers actually came out swinging and jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead, forcing Golden State into an early timeout after Garland knocked down a jumper.
The Warriors couldn't buy a bucket for over three minutes before Brandin Podziemski finally hit a three to stop the bleeding. Golden State eventually tied it back up, but the Clippers still led after one, 31-22.
Golden State Warriors #30 Stephen Curry (G) gliding to the basket for a layup, scored 35 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Play-In-Tournament at the Intuit Dome. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 April 15, 2026.
The second quarter was a different story. The Warriors flipped the switch and went on an 11-0 run, capped off by a Kristaps Porzingis three-pointer. The Clippers finally woke up when Kris Dunn knocked down a three at the 8:37 mark, and a quick Garland three put LA back in front, 37-35. The Clippers managed to stretch it back out to five, 43-38, and went into halftime up 61-53.
Things were looking good early in the third when the Clippers pushed it to 10, but then Curry took over. He went off for 16 points in the quarter alone, cutting the deficit to six heading into the fourth, 89-86.
The fourth quarter is where it started to fall apart for the Clippers. With just under 10 minutes left, Mathurin hit some free throws to put the Clippers up 13, and it felt like LA was in control, but the Warriors had other plans. Al Horford started heating up, drilling back-to-back threes to pull Golden State within two, 112-110.
Then, with just over two minutes left, Horford hit another three to give the Warriors their first lead since the second quarter, and they never looked back. The Clippers fought to the end but couldn't close the gap.