Inglewood, Calif. — On a Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome, the Golden State Warriors refused to let their season end quietly. Entering as the 10th seed in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record, many had already written off the veteran-laden squad. Yet, led by a transcendent performance from 38-year-old Stephen Curry, the Warriors staged a thrilling comeback to defeat the LA Clippers 126-121 in the NBA play-in tournament.
Curry delivered a vintage explosion: 35 points, one rebound, four assists, and one steal in 36 minutes. He shot 12-of-23 from the field and a blistering 7-of-12 from three-point range, igniting the Warriors’ offense when it mattered most. His heroics included a crucial three-pointer that gave Golden State a 120-117 lead in the second half, sending the crowd into a frenzy as he reacted with pure emotion.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/2044638819560120343
In addition to his stellar scoring, Curry etched his name deeper into NBA lore. As reported, he became the oldest point guard in NBA history to record a 35-point game — a remarkable feat for a player in his 17th season who continues to defy Father Time.
The Warriors trailed by as many as 13 points but erupted for 43 points in the fourth quarter — their highest output in a final period since March 31, 2023 — to erase the deficit and secure the victory. ESPN Insights highlighted the surge: “The Warriors turned it up in the 4th quarter🔥 Golden State erased a 13-point deficit after scoring 43 points in the fourth quarter.”
Embed X: https://twitter.com/ESPNInsights/status/2044643936904393178
Veteran leadership shone throughout. Draymond Green provided vintage defense down the stretch, particularly on Kawhi Leonard. Al Horford knocked down four massive fourth-quarter threes, and Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points. ESPN’s Anthony Slater captured the night perfectly: “Vintage Draymond Green defense down the stretch on Kawhi Leonard. Steph Curry scores 35 in 36 minutes. Al Horford hits four mammoth fourth quarter 3s. Kristaps Porzingis scores 20. Veteran Warriors save their season in LA and face Suns on Friday for shot at the eighth seed.”
The Warriors now improve to 16-26 on the road this season and will travel to Phoenix for a critical matchup against the Suns on Friday night, with a chance to claim the eighth seed and advance in the postseason.
Curry’s individual brilliance capped off a strong 2025-26 regular season in which he averaged 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc in 43 contests. At 38 years old, he remains one of the top 15 players in the league, proving that his impact and shooting prowess are as potent as ever.
For context, the Suns finished the regular season at 45-37 and hold a solid 25-17 home record at their arena in Arizona. However, they fell to the Portland Trail Blazers in their opening play-in game, setting up this high-stakes showdown with Golden State.
Last season, the Warriors reached the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs before falling short. This resilient group, anchored by Curry and a cast of experienced contributors like Green, Horford, and Porzingis, has shown it still possesses the fight to extend its campaign.
As the Warriors head to Phoenix, one thing is clear: counting out Stephen Curry and this veteran Warriors core remains a risky proposition. At an age when many players fade, Curry continues to rewrite expectations — one splash three at a time. The unthinkable moment in Los Angeles may just be the spark for more magic ahead.