NBA: Clippers, without James Harden, maintain hot streak vs. Warriors

Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Clippers edged the Warriors 103-102, overcoming James Harden’s absence. Los Angeles rallied late despite 20 turnovers, holding off Stephen Curry’s 27-point effort in a nail-biting finish.

Field Level Media/Reuters

January 6, 2026

Clippers Edge Warriors 103-102 Without Harden as Leonard Leads with 24 Points

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/Reuters

Kawhi Leonard led the way with 24 points, while Kobe Sanders added 20, helping the Los Angeles Clippers overcome the absence of James Harden to edge the visiting Golden State Warriors, 103-102, on Monday night.

Leonard also recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds, and Ivica Zubac contributed 10 points and 11 boards. Harden was ruled out before the game due to a stiff shoulder.

Stephen Curry scored a game-high 27 points, and Jimmy Butler III added 24 for the Warriors, who faced early adversity when coach Steve Kerr was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving two technical fouls for disputing a potential goaltending call on the Clippers.

Trailing most of the night and down by as many as 14 points, the Warriors rallied to 94-90 after Butler sank two free throws with 3:06 remaining. The Clippers responded with three baskets, including five points from Kris Dunn, extending their lead to 101-94 with 1:48 left. Curry countered with back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to one point with 1:05 remaining.

The game remained tight in the final seconds, but Butler’s fadeaway 16-footer missed, and the rebound deflected to midcourt as time expired, securing the Clippers’ seventh win in their last eight games.

Despite missing all eight of his 3-point attempts, Leonard made 10 of 17 two-point shots, helping the Clippers shoot 48.1% from the field. John Collins (18) and Dunn (16) also scored in double figures, overcoming 20 turnovers that led to 27 Warriors points. Golden State, meanwhile, committed only seven turnovers.

Curry was 4-for-15 from beyond the arc, while Butler went 1-for-4, with the Warriors hitting just 24.4% of their 3-point attempts. Butler also led the visitors with six rebounds and four of Golden State’s 18 steals, but the team’s 38% overall shooting and 31 missed 3-pointers proved costly.

Gary Payton II added 14 points, and Draymond Green recorded a game-high 12 assists along with six points.

-Field Level Media/Reuters