Clippers Face High Stakes in Regular Season Finale Against Warriors

SACRAMENTO — The Los Angeles Clippers edged out the Sacramento Kings in a nail-biting finish, winning 101-100 on Friday night at the Golden 1 Center. This victory marked their seventh consecutive win, solidifying their position as a contender for the playoffs as they approach the final game of the regular season.

With the win, the Clippers improved their record to 49-32, placing them fifth in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. They are now tied with the Denver Nuggets for the fourth seed, though the Nuggets hold the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. The stakes are high as the Clippers prepare for their last game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard was the standout performer for the Clippers, scoring 28 points, while James Harden notched a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Ivica Zubac contributed significantly with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Norman Powell added 16 points, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience.

The game was a rollercoaster, with the Clippers leading comfortably for most of the match. However, the Kings mounted a late surge, narrowing the gap to just two points with less than a minute remaining. Zach LaVine, who finished with 26 points, made two crucial free throws, bringing the Kings within strikings distance at 100-98.

In a dramatic final sequence, the Kings managed to steal the inbounds pass after Harden turned the ball over with just 2.2 seconds left. DeMar DeRozan had a chance to win the game but his contested three-point attempt at the buzzer clanged off the backboard, sealing the Clippers’ narrow victory. DeRozan ended the night with 16 points, moving past Reggie Miller into 25th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

“High stakes, huh?” Zubac remarked after the game, as he soaked his swollen ankle in ice. “We got a lot of wins but other teams did too. So, one game, playoffs or play-in. So, it’s going to be fun.”

As the Clippers look ahead to their matchup against the Warriors, they are aware of the implications of their next game. A win against Golden State would guarantee them a playoff spot, while a loss could see them drop to the play-in tournament. Coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, stating, “Win 49 games and if you don’t win Sunday, you got a chance to be seventh. So, we just got to keep scrapping, keep competing. One game at a time.”

Golden State has been on a roll since acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, boasting a 23-7 record since the move. This makes the upcoming game a formidable challenge for the Clippers, who have already defeated the Warriors three times this season. “That’s a good team over there,” Zubac noted. “They’ve been playing well. They got a lot of experience, a lot of playoff games together. So, got to be locked in, got to be the team we’ve been all year on the defensive end. It’s going to be tough. But I think we’re in a good spot. So it’s going to be fun.”

Fans took to social media to react to Simmons’ performance in previous games, resulting in mixed reviews highlighting both his skills and areas for improvement. As the Clippers prepare for their final game of the regular season, they will need to build on their momentum and secure a victory against the Warriors to avoid the risk of falling into the play-in tournament. The outcome of this game will determine their playoff fate and could set the tone for their postseason journey.

Meanwhile, the Kings, who dropped to 39-42 with the loss, remain in contention for a play-in spot but will need to regroup quickly as they face the Phoenix Suns next week. Domantas Sabonis also had a notable performance, recording 19 points and 16 rebounds, becoming the sixth player since the ABA/NBA merger to achieve 60 or more double-doubles for three consecutive seasons.

“The outcome is going to tell what happens,” Leonard said. “So, just go out and play. That’s all you can do — play and have fun.”