Stephen Curry Returns To Lead Warriors In Comeback, Kerr Lauds Talisman

Stephen Curry delivered a decisive late surge as the Golden State Warriors overturned a double-digit deficit to edge the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121, keeping their postseason hopes alive for at least another two days and underlining Steve Kerr’s choice to bring Curry back from a knee problem.

Curry finished with 35 points, the highest total in the game, and 11 of those came in the final nine minutes and 27 seconds. With 10 minutes remaining the Warriors trailed by 13, yet Curry guided a composed response that stunned the Clippers and extended Golden State’s play-in campaign.

Kerr said the performance was exactly why Curry did not shut down the season after the knee issue that sidelined the 38-year-old for 27 straight games earlier in the campaign. During that spell, the Warriors struggled and slipped down the Western Conference standings, raising doubts about any deep run.

Reflecting on those concerns, Kerr stated: "This is why Steph came back, Kerr said. Everyone out there who thought Steph should take the rest of the year off, [but] this is what he does. This is who he is." The coach pointed to the closing minutes against the Clippers as the clearest example.

Golden State had posted a 9-18 record while Curry was unavailable, and the guard had considered ending the season early to fully protect the knee. Instead, Curry chose to return and chase another playoff appearance, a decision that has reshaped the team’s short-term outlook and energised the squad.

Draymond Green highlighted how demanding the situation had been for Curry and the group after falling from seventh to 10th place. Green said: "Most people would quit. Especially when you're in a position like that you leave [the lineup] in the seventh spot and you come back and we're in 10th. Locked in 10th. Most people would get themselves right and do it again next year."

Kerr praised the collective resilience shown against repeated Clippers pushes. Kerr said: "We came back every single time they made a run.An incredible display of guts and competitiveness and connection. Then obviously Steph and Dray took over down the stretch. Draymond is the best defender I've ever seen in my life." Green’s defence was central to the turnaround.

Green took the primary assignment on Kawhi Leonard, who still produced 21 points but found clear looks rare. Leonard acknowledged that pressure, saying: "Draymond, Hall of Fame defender, Leonard said. It was hard to even get shots up." The duel underlined Green’s influence at both ends during the closing stages.

Key scoreboard details from the Golden State Warriors win over the Clippers are shown below.

The Warriors achieved the victory while still missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, adding to the context of Kerr’s comments about age and injuries. Golden State now move on to face the Phoenix Suns in their next play-in matchup, knowing another win is required to continue their postseason chase.

Assessing the broader meaning of the result, Kerr said: "There's a reason we have four championships, Kerr said. With all the wins we've ever had here a lot of them with a lot more at stake this is right up there. Just because of where we are and our age and the decline of our performance this year and our injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will." The win reinforced Golden State’s belief entering Phoenix.