Golden State walked into Intuit Dome shorthanded — and walked out with a 126-121 win anyway, detonating for 43 fourth-quarter points to rip the game away from the Los Angeles Clippers on April 16.
The Warriors trailed after three (89-83) and were down 59-53 at halftime, but they turned the final 12 minutes into a track meet on their terms. The Clippers scored 32 in the fourth — not a bad number — but couldn’t match Golden State’s finishing burst.
Game flow: Clippers controlled early, Warriors owned the finish
Los Angeles looked like the steadier team early, winning the first quarter 31-22 behind clean offense and home-court rhythm. The Warriors steadied in the second (31-30) to trim the margin, then stayed attached through the third despite losing that quarter 28-30.
Then the fourth hit: Golden State 43, Los Angeles 32. In a five-point game at the horn, that 11-point quarter swing was the entire story.
Why the late swing mattered — and why it wasn’t supposed to happen
Pregame indicators leaned Clippers. Los Angeles entered 42-40 with a 65.9% implied win probability from the market and no significant injuries reported. Golden State came in 37-45, trending the other direction recently, and missing major pieces: Jimmy Butler III (right ACL), Moses Moody (left patellar tendon) and Quinten Post (right foot).
Even the broader matchup signal pointed to a Clippers edge: the CPI differential favored Los Angeles by 20.6 (64.59 vs. 43.95). But the game didn’t follow the model. Golden State’s ability to generate a late offensive spike — 43 in one quarter — overwhelmed everything that came before it.
Styles clash: efficiency vs. volatility showed up when it counted
Over the last 10 games entering the night, both teams had been living on offense-first margins. The Clippers’ profile was efficient (68.8% true shooting, 64.9% effective field goal) but essentially neutral overall (113.6 offensive rating, 113.7 defensive rating, -0.1 net rating). Golden State’s profile was even more extreme: elite shot-making indicators (76.1% true shooting, 71.8% effective field goal) paired with a leaky defensive baseline (120.6 defensive rating) and a -1.0 net rating.
That combination can look unstable for long stretches — and then unstoppable in short ones. Thursday’s fourth quarter was the cleanest example: Golden State found a finishing gear that didn’t require 48 minutes of control, only a closing window where their offense could run hot.
Turnovers and pace: thin margins, one decisive quarter
Nothing in the schedule set up a fatigue excuse. Both teams had three days of rest and three games in the last seven days. The difference came down to execution under pressure.
Golden State entered with a high turnover rate over its last 10 (21.4%) compared to the Clippers (17.4%). Los Angeles had been the cleaner team recently, and that early control reflected it. But when the game sped up late — and the Warriors’ offense surged — the Clippers couldn’t buy enough stops to keep their advantage intact.
What it means going forward
For the Clippers, this one stings because it was set up to be a win: healthier roster, home floor (11-10 at home, 116.4 average points), and a market edge. Yet the defensive baseline that’s hovered near break-even recently (113.7 defensive rating over the last 10) couldn’t hold in the biggest quarter of the night.
For the Warriors, the win is a reminder of how dangerous their offense can be even without key bodies. With Stephen Curry headlining the available group and a roster missing Butler III, Moody and Post, Golden State still found enough creation and shot-making to win the only segment that truly mattered — the last one.
Final score
Warriors 126, Clippers 121
Quarter-by-quarter
GSW 22-31-30-43 — 126
LAC 31-30-28-32 — 121