Dominant fourth lifts Warriors to 120-104 win over Los Angeles

Like a pair of prize fighters going blow-for-blow, the Warriors and Clippers responded to haymakers from the other with shots of their own. As it has been over the last 12 games, Stephen Curry and the Warriors landed the final knockout blow, delivering a decisive shot in the fourth quarter to seal a 120-104 victory on Tuesday night.

Curry finished the night with 30 points, four rebounds and six assists on 13-for-26 shooting, including four three-point field goals. All four of Curry’s three’s came in the game’s decisive fourth quarter, in which the Warriors outscored the Clippers 33-22.

Jaylen Brown had yet another double-double, his second straight, with 28 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 11-for-16 from the floor and 3-for-6 from deep. Ky Bowman (15 points) and Kris Dunn (10 points, five rebounds, six assists) provided the necessary punch off the bench.

After exiting the first half with a one-point deficit, the Warriors began pounding away with body shots during an 8-0 run, building the lead to six points in the quarter’s first three minutes. The Clippers quickly responded, as Patrick Beverly and Paul George willed the Clippers back within three points. As the prizefighters traded runs, the Warriors could never get further away than eight points, while not allowing the Clippers any closer than three until the quarter's final minutes.

Having built a six-point edge with under two minutes to play, Kawhi Leonard and Isaiah Thomas fired back, with Leonard bottoming a three with nine seconds to play, cutting the deficit to one. Dunn answered within seconds, hitting a three of his own with just 0.2 seconds remaining, sending the lead back to four headed to the fourth.

Glenn Robinson III (10 points) and Bowman kicked off the Warrior fourth with five quick points, building the lead to nine and staggering the Clippers. George would answer for the Clippers before Curry continued the offensive assault, nailing consecutive triples and a layup, sending the lead to 10 points with three minutes to play.

The Clippers defense would respond, holding the Warriors scoreless for the next 1:30, but managed only a single bucket, cutting the lead to eight. Then, it was Eric Paschall’s (eight points, six rebounds, two assists) turn to deliver the knockout blow, converting a transition layup and a mid range jumper, pushing the lead out of reach and into double figures.

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The Brooklyn Nets head to San Francisco to face the Warriors on Thursday night.

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