On Wednesday, April 16, Al Horford’s hit four 3-pointers in the final 5:37 of a Western Conference play-in game, propelling the 10th-place Golden State Warriors to a 126-121 victory against the ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, California.Golden State will face the Suns in a sudden-death battle in Phoenix on Friday, determining the West’s No. 8 seed and the first-round playoff opponent for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The loss brings the Clippers’ season to an end.
Al Horford’s late-game hot streak contributed to Golden State’s 27-13 victory. Stephen Curry capped a 35-point night with a deep 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left, putting the Warriors up for good, 120-117. Curry’s seven makes on 12 attempts from beyond the arc led the Warriors to a 19-of-41 long-range bombardment (46.3%).Regardless of Curry’s contributions, Horford stole the show.
The 39-year-old veteran had only two points off the bench before his late surge. He finished with 14 points, thanks to two assists from Gui Santos followed by two assists by Curry.Santos played an important all-around role for the Warriors, ending with 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points for Golden State, including six consecutive in the fourth quarter.Porzingis converted a 3-pointer to cut the Clippers’ advantage from nine to three with 8:17 remaining.
Los Angeles responded when Darius Garland converted his own and-one, and Garland fed Brook Lopez for an interior bucket. Garland finished his impressive stretch with a 3-pointer that extended Los Angeles’ advantage back to nine with 6:37 left.
Al Horford
The Clippers lost control of the game after leading for the majority of it until that moment.Garland and Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points each, allowing Los Angeles to lead by much to 13 points. However, the Clippers were unable to shake the Warriors in the second half, especially as Leonard went cold on offense.Leonard had two errors in the fourth quarter and scored his only points on a dunk in the dying seconds, after Golden State had already secured the win.
Leonard scored 14 points in the first half, including a coast-to-coast slam right before halftime.Bennedict Mathurin led Los Angeles with 23 points off the bench.
Al Horford Delivers in the Clutch
Al Horford has forged a reputation as one of the most dependable veterans in the NBA and he showed that again. In the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Horford hit a pair of big three-pointers that turned the tide solidly in Golden State’s favor.
His steady approach and clutch shooting quelled the Clippers’ rally dreams and gave the Warriors and their home crowd some life. Horford had a really complete game: scoring, rebounding, and leading the defense.
Warriors Show Championship Experience
Golden State knew every possession would matter entering the play-in showdown. Led by their veteran core, the Warriors played with energy from the opening tip. Their ball movement, disciplined defense and effective shooting kept them in the game even when the Clippers threatened to take control.
Veteran leadership was on display for the Warriors all game long. They were under pressure, avoided costly turnovers and made important plays down the stretch.
Clippers Fight Hard but Fall Short
The Clippers refused to buckle, staying close until the last minutes. Their offensive stars generated scoring chances, and the defense made Golden State face a number of difficult situations.
In the fourth quarter the Clippers did their best to limit Horford’s outside shooting, but it wasn’t enough. The Warriors closed the game on a decisive run, and missed opportunities and defensive breakdowns proved costly.
The loss is disheartening, but the Clippers showed flashes of the skill that has made them a dangerous team all season long.
Defense Sets the Tone
But the Warriors’ defense was equally essential to the win as Horford’s three-pointers. Golden State continued to push the Clippers’ ball handlers, contest shots and clean up the defensive glass.
But critical saves in the final minutes prevented the Clippers from building any momentum. The Warriors’ defensive effort allowed them to turn turnovers into key transition buckets and gave them the breathing room they needed to seal the win.
Final Thoughts
Al Horford’s clutch threes will be remembered as the moments that defined the Warriors’ play-in win over the Clippers. His poise, experience and clutch shooting helped Golden State win a gritty battle and keep its title aspirations alive.
As for the Warriors, they will aim to carry this momentum into the future and take their great defense and veteran leadership into the playoffs. The Clippers, meanwhile, are left to wonder what could have been after a crushing loss.
Sports journalist covering NBA, NFL & MLB.
Breaking news, game recaps and player
analysis. Staff writer at USANewsPoint.blog
