The Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes to lay one up against the Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Feb 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After leading for the majority of Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (36-17) the Golden State Warriors (26-26) fell short in the fourth quarter losing 130-125. The Warriors controlled the tempo, the pace but fell short in the final four minutes. The sixth win in a row for Golden State was not to be.

Game recap: The Warriors got a lightning start forcing turnovers and handling the Clippers quite well. Los Angeles is without Kawhi Leonard in this game missing it due to a left thigh injury. The first quarter was close throughout until the final minute when the Warriors got a little separation leading 30-23 after the first 12 minutes. 

The Clippers weakest quarter is typically the first quarter but Golden State had gotten this game going in the right direction in the opening quarter. Every Golden State starter had scored in the first twelve minutes. and the Warriors had set a great pace dictating play.

Mid-way through the second quarter the Warriors took a ten-point lead 43-33. The Warriors continued to double team James Harden who was the leading scorer on the court for the Clippers. 

Harden was not getting much help from his team mates and continued to try and carry his team. With 4:32 left in the half, the Warriors continued to hold the lead 47-39 and Golden State had their way throughout the first half. The first two quarters were all Golden State. 

The three’s started flying for the Warriors complimented by some solid defense. The score at halftime was 59-52 in favor of Golden State. The Warriors had held a 59-44 lead during the second quarter but the Clippers went on a 8-0 run to close out the half. They had cut the Warriors lead in half but Golden State still held a seven point lead going into the second half.

The Clippers got going in the third quarter and in a flash Los Angeles had pulled to within three points 59-62. Early in the quarter, Draymond Green got an elbow to the jaw and was taken back to the locker room to rule out concussion, broken jaw or any number of injuries that could have occurred after such a vicious hit. The team had to carry on in the absence of Green awaiting word on his condition. 

The Warriors rallied pushing their lead back to double digits 75-65 at 5:38. Stephen Curry was on fire with 25 points through 2 2/1 quarters and had 6 three’s. At 5:22 the ever tough Green came out of the locker room and rejoined his team mates on the court.

Brandin Podziemski was having a terrific game off the bench with 18 points going 4 of 4 from downtown. The third quarter saw another record for Curry with his fourth straight game hitting at least seven three’s.  As the quarter came to an end the Warriors held onto a 97-86 lead. 

The fourth quarter was an over the top physical game. The Clippers Mason Plumlee got a flagrant one when he showed excessive force guarding Brandin Podziemski and the Warriors Jonathan Kuminga also got a flagrant one for pushing Plumlee in the back in defense of his team mate. 

At 5:35 the Clippers made a push that tied up this game at 108. Los Angeles went on to take the lead; their first lead with a 17-2 run. The two teams began to trade leads as this game was going down to the wire. 

Curry had a real challenge being double-teamed for most of the game and forced to take some very difficult shots. Los Angeles had their largest lead when it really counted; in the last minute of the game 126-120. 

With 48.3 ticks left on the clock the Warriors were in danger of losing. Golden State was unable to guard the Clippers in the fourth quarter when it really counted. The final was 130-125 in favor of Los Angeles. This was an impressive win for the Clippers having to play without Leonard but they fought throughout the contest for the eventual victory.

The Warriors had a terrific game doing just about everything needed to win. Curry finished with 41 points hitting nine shots from downtown. Podziemski was terrific off the bench with 25 points going 5 for 5 from beyond the arc. Golden State protected the ball well with only 9 turnovers. It was a disappointing loss for the Warriors after leading for the majority of the game and playing so well throughout.   

Game notes: Wednesday night the Warriors took on one of the best in the west the Clippers at Chase Center. The Clippers are currently in third place in the Western Conference. The Clippers have the third ranked offense and they are first in three’s. Despite a crazy schedule, the Warriors are playing their best basketball of the season. They defeated the Warriors at Chase by five points and hop on a plane to play the Utah Jazz on Thursday leading into the All-Star game. Golden State failed to get their sixth win in a row Wednesday night. They couldn’t win the final two games before the break.

In a quick turnaround, the Warriors will hop on a plane and fly back out to Utah to make up the suspended game from January 17. It has been a crazy week for the Warriors but they are really rising to the occasion playing what is probably their best basketball all season. Tipoff for the Jazz game Thursday night is scheduled for 6:00 PM.