Curry's 35 Explode Warriors Past Clippers in Epic Play-In Thriller

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Stephen Curry delivered a postseason masterclass Wednesday night, scoring 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting with seven three-pointers to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 126-121 play-in triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. The Warriors, finishing the regular season 37-45 and ninth in the West, trailed by 13 in the fourth before unleashing a 16-6 closing run, with Al Horford draining four triples to fuel the rally. Curry tallied 27 points after halftime, silencing a raucous Southern California crowd and advancing Golden State to Friday's do-or-die matchup against the Phoenix Suns in the Bay Area.

Chase Center faithful will host the high-stakes winner-take-all game, where a victory sends the Warriors into a first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This intra-California clash highlighted the state's NBA depth, pitting the Warriors' dynasty remnants against a Clippers squad that ended 42-40 with strong home play (23-18 at Intuit Dome). Curry's heroics echoed his iconic playoff runs, reaffirming the Warriors' resilience despite a middling regular season marred by road struggles (15-26 away).

For Bay Area fans enduring a rollercoaster year, the win injects hope into a franchise forever linked to Curry's sharpshooting. The Clippers, battling injuries and inconsistency, exit early despite James Harden's efforts, underscoring the cutthroat Western Conference. As California braces for the Warriors-Suns showdown, all eyes turn north to San Francisco's Chase Center for the next chapter in the playoff saga.