SAN FRANCISCO – Coming into additional time at Chase Heart, the No. 6 seed was there for the taking over Sunday afternoon.
However when offered with such a chance, two gamers who’ve lengthy haunted the Bay Space franchise despatched the Warriors to the play-in with a 124-119 additional time defeat.
Kawhi Leonard, six years after main the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title over Golden State, showcased a classic assortment of mid-range jumpers, sturdy drives and unarguable isolation strikes to attain 33 factors.
Then James Harden, who battled the Warriors for years because the Rockets’ famous person, put in 12 throughout additional time to assist shut the door on the Warriors.
With the Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Nuggets profitable their video games, the Warriors (48-34) are the seventh seed and certain for a Tuesday evening dwelling sport with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Warriors squandered a double-digit benefit within the second quarter, and a number of second-half leads too.
Steph Curry scored 36 however had eight turnovers, and Jimmy Butler put in 30, whereas Brandin Podziemski scored 19. James Harden scored 39 to steer the Clippers.
Curry did his finest to hold the Warriors to a collection with the Lakers, scoring 18 within the fourth quarter alone and burying three 3-pointers throughout that stretch.
However with a chance to interrupt the impasse with 32 seconds left, the franchise level guard turned it over. Leonard missed a mid-range shot on the buzzer ship it to additional time.
Even after falling behind early within the further interval, the Warriors simply wouldn’t go away. Draymond Inexperienced, Curry and Jimmy Butler every scored to make it 121-119 with 50 seconds left.
After Inexperienced bought the cease on and compelled Leonard to show the ball over, the Warriors have been capable of get Inexperienced open on a layup that may have tied the sport with 26 seconds remaining.
Inexperienced missed the layup, however Leonard missed 1-of-2 free throws to present the Warriors the ball, down three with six seconds remaining.
Buddy Hield missed the potential game-tying shot from behind the arc on the left wing, and Harden closed issues out from the road from there.
It was a dramatic finish to a sport that left the Warriors battered and bruised.
Inexperienced suffered an harm scare halfway via the primary quarter, when he appeared to injure his neck after diving for a unfastened ball.
The veteran ahead went again to the locker room with 6:22 left within the first quarter, however returned a couple of minutes later and checked again into the sport.
Golden State completed the primary quarter on a 13-1 run to take a 33-25 lead into the second interval. Butler scored 10 factors within the first 12 minutes, together with six within the remaining 75 seconds of the primary quarter.
Golden State additionally scored 16 factors within the paint, taking benefit at any time when the 7-foot Ivica Zubac was on the bench and making 8-of-9 photographs.
The Warriors’ 15-0 run prolonged into the second quarter and concluded with the staff incomes a 39-25 lead.
The protection deserved a lot of the credit score.
Moses Moody guarded Kawhi Leonard, Norm Powell and James Harden at totally different factors, and thrived towards all three.
After taking a 44-33 lead with 6:42 left within the second quarter, the Clippers went on a 16-4 run and took a 49-48 lead on a Harden baseline floater.
Curry gave the Warriors a 58-57 lead on a fading 3-pointer from the left wing with six seconds remaining within the half, however Powell despatched the Clippers into the locker room with a 60-58 lead by making a contested 35-foot buzzer-beater.
Inexperienced’s two third quarter 3-pointers and extra Butler buckets gave Golden State a 72-71 lead, however the Clippers continued to have success in isolation.
Harden was capable of get downhill, and Leonard buried one-on-one jumper after iso jumper to assist in giving the Clippers an 81-78 lead with quarter-hour left within the common season.
Los Angeles made the performs it wanted to down the stretch, sending Golden State to a play-in sport towards Memphis.
