Stephen Curry goes viral for clutch 3-pointer as Warriors beat Clippers in play-in game

Curry drained seven 3-pointers on his way to a 35-point night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California

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Published Apr 16, 2026  •  Last updated 8 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts during play against the LA Clippers in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Intuit Dome on April 15, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif. Photo by Ronald Martinez /Getty Images

Stephen Curry took his game to a new level as he helped the Golden State Warriors surge past the Los Angeles Clippers in a 126-121 win in Wednesday evening’s elimination game.

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Curry drained seven 3-pointers on his way to a 35-point night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

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Highlight clips of Curry’s performance dominated social media Thursday, including one fan-shot video that has generated over a million views on X.

As Curry dribbled past Kris Dunn, he passed to teammate Draymond Green, who fed the ball back to the two-time NBA MVP as he maneuvered around Brook Lopez and hit a stunning 3-pointer with 51 seconds left.

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As one supporter could be heard encouraging Curry to put the Clippers “to bed,” he was filmed falling face-first into a group of courtside onlookers after the shot left his hands. As he faced fans in the front few rows, he could be seen asking if his shot went in.

After they confirmed it did, Curry gave out a fist-bump and they screamed with excitement.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the LA Clippers in the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Intuit Dome on April 15, 2026. Photo by Ronald Martinez /Getty Images

The Warriors’ visit to Los Angeles to face the Clippers was a win-or-go-home match up in the NBA play-in game. To make it into the NBA Playoffs, Curry will have to help the club beat the Phoenix Suns Friday night to secure the No. 8 seed.

“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again,” coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “And I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a play-in game. I don’t care. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.”

Kerr said it was “a tough year” for the Warriors as he praised his team.

“There was a lot more at stake,” Kerr said. “Just because (of) where we are at our age and the decline of our performance.”

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The Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to the Clippers and were also aided by Al Horford, who nailed four 3-pointers during Golden State’s fourth-quarter surge.

“That’s what you live for right there,” the 38-year-old Curry said postgame. “I’m proud of how we fought.”

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Everything seemed to be rolling for Curry Wednesday night and he told reporters he’s “just having fun.”

“I think the muscle memory and the reps and the work you put in for your entire life comes out at the right time. I always talk about earning and deserving the confidence you play with because of the work you put in … and not being afraid of failure and missed shots … you just keep going,” the four-time NBA champ said.

“This is what you work all year for, all summer, offseason,” added Curry, who spent some of his formative years growing up in Toronto. “We’re not guaranteed a (playoff) series yet, but these nights make everything worth it, because you feel the anxiety of having to perform when the lights are bright, do-or-die game. … Considering how our season has gone, all the injuries and all that, for us to play the way we did tonight was special.”

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Another playoff disappointment for Clippers and Kawhi Leonard

With the Clippers headed into another offseason full of questions, Leonard’s playoff failures became another topic of discussion on social media.

The former Raptor left for Los Angeles after winning an NBA Championship with Toronto in 2019, but he has failed to make it deep into the postseason ever since.

Raptors fans have often believed that had Leonard stayed in Toronto he would have added at least one more Larry O’Brien Championship to his name.

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots as Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis defends during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Photo by Mark J. Terrill /AP

“Coulda had a dynasty with how deep (Toronto’s) roster was — but he wanted to play with Paul George,” one fan wrote on X.

Another account called Leonard’s departure from Toronto the “biggest fumble” of his career.

Leonard, who scored 21 points in the elimination game, was marred by accusations at the start of the season that he inked a deal with a now-bankrupt former team sponsor, Aspiration, as a way to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.

According to ESPN, the NBA launched an ongoing investigation into Leonard’s deal with Aspiration in September 2025.

“I think we’re going to be in the clear. I’m not stressing it,” he said of the probe Wednesday night.

Despite averaging the most points per game in his career (27.9) this season, Leonard was guarded heavily by Green in Wednesday night’s game.

“Draymond Green, Hall of Fame defender,” Leonard said after the loss. “It was hard to even get shots up.”

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