Bench boosts Warriors to win over Clippers

Field Level Media|published: Fri 1st December, 24:53 2023

Nov 30, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second quarter at Chase Center. credits: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Curry had a team-high 26 points, Jonathan Kuminga led a difference-making bench performance with 17 and the short-handed Golden State Warriors kept the visiting Los Angeles Clippers at arm's length for most of the night in a 120-114 victory Thursday in San Francisco.

Playing without injured Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II, the Warriors rode a balanced attack to a third straight home win.

Kuminga, Dario Saric (13) and Brandin Podziemski (13) were a big part of the balance, combining for 43 of the Warriors' 44 bench points, 13 more than the Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 23 points and Ivica Zubac and James Harden 18 apiece for the Clippers, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back, having won at Sacramento 24 hours earlier.

The Warriors trailed 18-14 in the eighth minute of the game before taking the lead for good with a 17-6 period-ending flurry that featured four 3-pointers, including two by Curry, and three foul shots by Klay Thompson after he'd been fouled on a 3-point attempt.

Golden State went on to lead by as many as 18, but the Clippers wouldn't go away. They got within 113-107 on a Paul George 3-pointer with still 58.1 seconds remaining before a Moses Moody dunk killed the visitors' momentum.

Curry finished with three 3-pointers, as did Kuminga, while Thompson, Saric, Podziemski and Draymond Green nailed two apiece as Golden State outscored the visitors 45-36 from beyond the arc.

Curry also found time for team-highs in rebounds (seven) and assists (eight).

Thompson backed Curry with 22 points, while Moody, pressed into Wiggins' starting spot, chipped in with 13, as did Green.

Zubac capped a double-double for the Clippers with a game-high 13 rebounds, while George (15 points, game-high 10 assists) and Russell Westbrook (14 points, 11 rebounds) each logged one of his own.

Daniel Theis was the 13th player to score in double figures with 10 points for the Clippers, who were outshot 50.0 percent to 44.2 percent from the field and 38.5 percent to 37.5 percent on 3-pointers.

—Field Level Media

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