Warriors Game Recap: Curry’s Last-Second Three Lifts Golden State to 112-110 Win — Watch Highlights & Key Takeaways

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors opened a pivotal homestand Monday night by racing to an early double-digit lead over the Los Angeles Clippers, 44-31, after one quarter at Chase Center. Rookie sharpshooter Brandin Podziemski erupted for 20 first-period points on 8-of-12 shooting, drilling three triples to ignite a Warriors offense that has struggled without injured superstar Stephen Curry. Why tonight matters • Play-in positioning: Golden State (31-29) entered the matchup eighth in the West, just 2½ games ahead of ninth-place L.A. (28-31). A win would secure the season-series tiebreaker and widen the cushion in an increasingly crowded playoff race. • Short-handed again: Curry (right knee) missed his 11th straight contest, while Kristaps Porziņģis remained out with illness. Coach Steve Kerr said pre-game that Curry’s next evaluation is “early next week,” leaving his return date uncertain. • Clippers’ debut: Newly acquired guard Darius Garland made his team debut after a seven-week layoff with a sprained toe, but L.A.’s offense sputtered to 37 percent shooting in the opening frame. First-quarter flash points 1. Threes falling: Golden State buried 8-of-20 from deep (40 percent), reversing Saturday’s 12-for-44 nightmare in a 129-101 loss to the Lakers. 2. Pace and space: Kerr’s small-ball lineup—Draymond Green at center flanked by Podziemski, Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford—pushed the tempo, turning eight Clipper turnovers into 14 easy points. 3. Podziemski’s career night watch: The rookie’s previous high is 34; he was on pace for 80 mid-second quarter before cooling as L.A. switched Kawhi Leonard onto him. What to watch the rest of the way • Can Golden State maintain energy? The Warriors have faded in second halves during Curry’s absence, going 2-3 over their last five. • Leonard’s minutes: L.A. coach Tyronn Lue limited Leonard to 29 minutes Sunday; if the two-time Finals MVP pushes past 35 tonight, expect a late Clippers surge. • Bench battle: Golden State’s second unit ranked 28th in net rating in February. Early returns are positive—Nate Williams drilled a 27-footer and Gui Santos grabbed four boards—but consistency has been elusive. How to follow • TV: NBC Sports Bay Area / Bally Sports SoCal. • Stream: NBA League Pass (local blackout rules apply). • Radio: 95.7 FM The Game (SF), AM 570 (LA). • Live stats: NBA.com Game ID 0022500882. Up next The Warriors stay home to host the streaking Denver Nuggets on Friday, their final game before a four-game East-coast swing. The Clippers fly to Salt Lake City for a back-to-back vs. the Jazz on Tuesday. Bottom line With Curry still sidelined, every win is golden. If Podziemski and the supporting cast keep the offense humming, Golden State can solidify its postseason footing and buy the MVP point guard precious rehab time. Tonight’s result could reverberate all the way to April—exactly why “Warriors game” is the search phrase lighting up browsers across the Bay.