Head coach ejected! Curry hits 4 of 15 threes scoring 27 points before being fouled out; Leonard posts 24+12 as Clippers narrowly defeat Warriors

On January 6th, in an NBA regular season game, the Clippers edged the Warriors 103-102. Harden was absent, Curry made 4 of 15 three-pointers, finishing with 27 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, but was fouled out with six fouls in the final seconds. Warriors head coach Kerr was ejected from the game.

Statistical Summary

For the Warriors, Curry scored 27 points with 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals; Butler contributed 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals; Payton added 14 points and 5 rebounds; Green recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists;

For the Clippers, Leonard posted 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists; Sanders had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists; Collins scored 18 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots; Zubac added 10 points and 11 rebounds; Dunn contributed 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists;

Game Progression

At the start of the first quarter, the Warriors spread their offense and quickly went on an 11-6 run, but the Clippers responded swiftly with Leonard scoring both inside and outside, leading a 15-2 run to overturn the score and take the lead. Near the quarter’s end, Melton hit a three-pointer for the Warriors, but Batum quickly answered with back-to-back threes for the Clippers. The first quarter ended with the Clippers leading 31-19 by 12 points. In the second quarter, Curry made several jump shots, but the Clippers kept steady by hitting multiple threes. Later, Curry and Horford exchanged three-pointers, and Butler scored on a steal and dunk, narrowing the gap to 2 points. At the quarter’s close, Zubac scored on free throws. At halftime, the Clippers led 55-51, with Leonard scoring 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Curry also tallying 14 points.

After the break, the Clippers came out stronger with Leonard, Dunn, and Sanders all hitting shots. When Dunn nailed a three-pointer, the Clippers led 64-57. The Warriors pushed back, but the Clippers maintained their momentum; Leonard scored on a fast break layup, extending the lead to 11 points. Near the end of the third quarter, Sanders hit another three, while Butler scored on free throws to stop the bleeding. The Clippers held a 12-point lead going into the final quarter. Early in the fourth, Payton scored 6 straight points and Santos hit a three-pointer, sparking a 10-2 run that brought the Warriors closer. However, coach Kerr was ejected after disputing a call. Leonard responded by scoring consecutively, pushing the Clippers’ lead to 13 points. The Warriors launched another comeback, with Curry hitting consecutive threes to cut the deficit to 1 point, but he was soon fouled out with six fouls. In the closing moments, Green made a layup, Leonard missed a three, and the Warriors’ last attempt failed. Ultimately, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Warriors.

Starting Lineups

Warriors: Curry, Butler, Green, Poole, Moody

Clippers: Leonard, Zubac, Dunn, Collins, Sanders