Field Level Media
Feb 15, 2024
Paul George had 24 points before fouling out and the Los Angeles Clippers, playing without Kawhi Leonard, overtook the Golden State Warriors 130-125 on Wednesday night in San Francisco.
Norman Powell buried four late 3-pointers to aid the Clippers' comeback.
Seeking a sixth straight win and a 500th career victory for coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors rode a big night from Stephen Curry to as much as a 15-point lead before the Clippers rallied.
Golden State led 106-94 with 9:29 remaining before the Clippers, having seen coach Tyronn Lue get ejected for receiving two technical fouls, went on a 10-0 run. George contributed a three-point play and Powell hit a 3-pointer as Los Angeles pulled within two with seven minutes left.
Curry's eighth 3-pointer and a Draymond Green layup pushed Golden State to a 115-111 lead with 4:07 to go. Russell Westbrook then dropped in a layup and Powell nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer, giving the visitors the lead for good at 116-115 with 3:22 to go.
Powell added a fourth 3-pointer of the final period and Amir Coffey connected on one of his own, helping the Clippers pull away en route to their season-series-clinching third win over the Warriors in four meetings.
The late push occurred not only without Lue but also without George, who fouled out with 3:07 to play, and without Leonard, who sat out due to a left adductor strain.
Hitting four 3-pointers, James Harden paced the Clippers with 26 points to complement eight rebounds and a team-high seven assists. Powell, who had five threes, finished with 21 points. Westbrook scored 15 points, Coffey had 14 points and Ivica Zubac logged 13 points and a game-high-tying 10 rebounds.
On a night when he made seven or more 3-pointers for an NBA-record fourth consecutive game, Curry went 9-for-19 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 41 points.
Brandin Podziemski chipped in with 25 points, seven rebounds and a game-high eight assists off the Golden State bench. Jonathan Kuminga added 13 points, Klay Thompson 12 and Andrew Wiggins 10. Green matched Zubac's 10 rebounds and scored nine points.
--Field Level Media