By Frank Ulom
LOS ANGELES (CONVERSEER) – Jimmy Butler led the Golden State Warriors to a decisive 98–79 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, scoring 21 points with five rebounds and five assists. Stephen Curry added 19 points and eight assists to guide the Warriors to their third consecutive home win at the Chase Center.
Curry shot 7-for-15 from the field, marking only the sixth time in his 17-season career that he wasn’t among four Warriors players scoring 20 or more points, a day after their 20-point ensemble performance against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Warriors turned the game around late in the third quarter when Butler and Moses Moody both drained 3-pointers, fuelling a 10–2 run in the final 2:07 to open up a 78–63 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Brandin Podziemski followed up his 23-point performance against Memphis with 12 points, while Quinten Post matched that tally with 12 points, including four 3-pointers, and grabbed eight rebounds.
For the Clippers, James Harden led the charge with 20 points, all scored before halftime, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 18 points and five rebounds. Despite Harden’s first-half effort, Los Angeles faltered after halftime, scoring only 14 points in the third quarter.
Harden’s 3-pointer with 41 seconds left in the second quarter had given the Clippers a 49–46 lead, capping a 24–6 run to end the first half. However, the Warriors responded strongly, limiting Los Angeles’ shooting efficiency throughout the second half.
Ivica Zubac added 14 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who struggled offensively, shooting just 36.6% from the field (30 of 82) and a poor 6 of 33 from beyond the arc.
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The win ended Golden State’s seven-game losing streak against the Clippers and three consecutive home defeats in the series. Veteran Al Horford returned to action for the Warriors after resting his left toe injury, helping them match the Clippers’ size and physicality in the paint.
The Clippers, missing Bradley Beal for the second straight game due to back soreness, started cold, shooting 6 of 20 overall and just 1 of 8 from three-point range, allowing Golden State to establish a 27–14 first-quarter lead they never relinquished.
Up Next
Clippers: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Warriors: Travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
