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Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors advanced to the next round of the NBA Play-In Tournament after shocking the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.

Al Horford caught fire in the fourth quarter like he was Klay Thompson, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the final six minutes of the game. He went 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, including the go-ahead one before the final two minutes.

The game was finished off by Steph Curry, who hit a contested 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining. Draymond Green also made two huge defensive plays on Kawhi Leonard to seal the 126-121 victory.

Kristaps Porzingis Praises Al Horford

GettyKristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a break in play against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Chase Center on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

Before Horford caught fire midway through the fourth quarter, Kristaps Porzingis kept the Warriors afloat. Porzingis scored six points early in the final period, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Porzingis spoke to the media after the game. He was asked about Horford’s clutch performance against the Clippers.

The Latvian knows a thing or two about what the 39-year-old veteran can do. They spent two seasons together on the Boston Celtics and won a championship in 2024.

“He got in a good rhythm and you could see like the second, third, fourth shot was like full of confidence,” Porzingis said. He’s one of the main reasons why we won this game. To have that spark in the fourth, like not really expecting it maybe, was perfect.”

Horford scored his first two points in the first quarter and was quiet for the next two periods. He exploded in the final six minutes of the game, turning back the clock and proving why the Warriors signed him last summer.

Horford Reveals Secret to His Fourth Quarter Barrage

GettyAl Horford #20 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Chase Center on October 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

In his postgame media availability, Horford was asked what sparked his fourth-quarter explosion from beyond the arc. The veteran forward had a simple explanation on how he was able to knock down the clutch shots.

“I just got to give the glory to the Lord on that,” Horford said. “This whole season for me, it’s been a challenge in different ways, with injuries and with things with the team, and this game wasn’t going quite like I expected it at the beginning.”

Horford added, “Steph was in my ear. Draymond was in my ear the whole time giving me that confidence. Letting me know that I do that as well, that I’m capable of. For me, that was a special moment that I shared with them there and with our season on the line.”

The Warriors are back in action on Friday night, this time at the PHX Arena against the Phoenix Suns.

If they beat the Suns, they have a date against the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the first round of the playoffs.