SAN FRANCISCO— Jimmy Butler had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists, Stephen Curry added 19 points and eight assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Clippers. 98-79 Tuesday night.
Curry shot 7 of 15 on the night after four Warriors players scored 20 or more points to beat Memphis — but it was just the sixth time in Curry's 17 seasons he wasn't one of them.
Butler and Moses Moody each scored three-pointers late in the third quarter and the Warriors used a 10-2 lead in the final 2:07 to take a 78-63 lead going into the fourth.
Brandin Podziemski finished with 23 points against the Grizzlies with 12 points, and Quinten Post scored 12 points with four 3-pointers and eight rebounds.
James Harden scored all 20 of his points by halftime and Kawhi Leonard added 18 points and five rebounds in a game that saw Golden State lead with 13 points in the second quarter, followed by the Clippers in third with 14 points.
Harden's three with 41 seconds left in the first half brought the result. Clippers their first halftime lead was 49–46 after finishing the second quarter on a 24–6 run.
Ivica Zubac scored 14 points and grabbed a season-best 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 6 of 33 from long range and 30 of 82 overall (36.6 percent).
The Clippers have won their last seven games in the series and three in a row at Chase Center, where the Warriors improved to 3-0.
Al Horford returned to the Warriors against a tall, physical Clippers team with the 7-foot Zubac after sitting out back-to-back on the front line to deal with a left toe injury.
The Clippers started six of 20 and one of eight from three while trailing 27-14 on a night when they missed Bradley Beal for the second straight game with back soreness.
