Clippers Erase 17-Point Deficit to Defeat Warriors

Kawhi Leonard's 23 points lead Clippers' comeback win over short-handed Golden State squad.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:15am by Ben Kaplan

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The Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 114-101 on Monday night. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Darius Garland scored 12 points in his Clippers debut after being acquired from the Cavaliers. The Warriors were without several key players, including Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis.

Why it matters

This win is an important one for the Clippers as they continue to jockey for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. The Warriors, on the other hand, have now lost 5 of their last 7 games as they deal with injuries to their star players.

The details

The Clippers trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half, but they chipped away at the deficit in the second half. Darius Garland hit a 3-pointer to pull the Clippers within 75-68 in the third quarter, and the team took the lead for good with a 9-4 run to start the fourth quarter. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 22 points, but he was held to just 2 points in the second half.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • Darius Garland was injured in a collision with Moses Moody late in the second quarter, but he remained in the game.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The star forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, who finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the win.

Darius Garland

The newly acquired guard for the Clippers, who scored 12 points in his debut after being traded from the Cavaliers.

Brandin Podziemski

The Warriors' leading scorer, who had 22 points but was held to just 2 points in the second half.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors' star player, who missed his 11th straight game with a right knee injury.

Kristaps Porzingis

The Warriors' big man, who missed his 5th consecutive game due to an illness.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to fight and find ways to win, even when we're down big early. This was a gutsy performance by our team.”

— Kawhi Leonard

“Losing Steph and Kristaps has been tough, but we have to find ways to compete and win games. We'll keep working to get healthy and turn this around.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach

What’s next

The Clippers will host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 as they continue their push for a playoff spot. The Warriors will look to get healthy and end their recent skid.

The takeaway

This comeback win shows the Clippers' resilience and ability to overcome adversity, even against a short-handed but talented Warriors team. It's a testament to their depth and coaching that they were able to erase a large deficit and secure the victory.