“That’s when we took the Clippers’ heart. Ripped it out” – Draymond reflects on the moment they emphatically ended their rivalry with the Clippers originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The 2010s saw numerous rivalries capture the attention of NBA fans. From Kobe Bryant taking on the Boston Celtics to LeBron James facing off against the San Antonio Spurs, these rivalries sparked fierce competition and produced moments that remain etched in fans’ hearts and minds. However, perhaps one of the most intense feuds of the decade was between two teams in the same state: the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
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The Warriors, led by their superstar guard Stephen Curry, had emerged as a dominant force in the NBA. However, the Clippers, led by All-Stars Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, were a formidable squad that booted the Warriors out of the first round of the 2014 playoffs.
From that point on, every game became a must-see event as the two teams battled for supremacy in the Western Conference. Hate is a strong word to use in the world of sports, but it was clear that there was no love lost between these two teams. However, according to Dubs forward Draymond Green, the Warriors ended the seething rivalry with an emphatic come-from-behind win early in the 2015-16 season.
The older brother knew the younger one was coming
Paul’s arrival to the Clippers in 2011 ushered in a transformative era for the franchise. Once dismissed as the inept “other team” in Los Angeles, the Clippers quickly rose to prominence under CP’s leadership. His exceptional chemistry with BG and DJ turned the team into a legitimate championship contender, redefining their place in the NBA. This placed them on a constant collision course with another rising power in the West, the Warriors.
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“They were supposed to be our rival,” Warriors wingman Andre Iguodala stated. “So it was always something with Blake (Griffin) and (Chris Paul). We didn’t look at it as a rivalry, but there was always that — what do you call it? — envy there.”
“There was always something there. Sometimes people don’t like you, and you don’t know why. Why y’all don’t like us? We play hard, don’t bother nobody. But it was like the older brother that knew the younger brother was better than them,”Iggy added.
On November 19, 2015, the Warriors and Clippers forged a new chapter in their rivalry, but this time, it was the Clippers that immediately got the upper hand as they got off to a sizzling start and led, 50-27, early in the second.
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“First, second quarter, we were getting smacked,” backup guard Shaun Livingston recalled. “It was, ‘OK, let’s go ahead and take this schedule loss.'”
“We never played well against the Clippers in L.A.,” Curry chimed in. “Something about Peter Guber’s house parties.”
A furious comeback
Just when the Clippers thought they had the Warriors under control, the Dubs went on one of their trademark rallies to trim the deficit to only six heading to the fourth quarter. At that point, Livingston said he saw the light go out of the Clips’ eyes.
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The atmosphere was electric as the two teams battled it out on the court.
“I remember seeing the look in their eyes when we were coming back. It took all their gusto,” he recalled. “Because that was supposed to be their time. It was now or never for them. That took their confidence. Gone.”
Up by 10 with five minutes to go in the game, the Warriors outscored the Clippers 25-8 the rest of the way, with Steph canning a triple to give them the lead for good, 116-115, with 1:47 left.
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“That’s when we took the Clippers heart. Ripped it out,” Dray, who had 19 points, six rebounds and nine assists in the 124-117 win, emphasized. “After that, they were done. You could see, as soon as we won, they were done.”
The noise surrounding the Warriors-Clippers rivalry soon died down after that game, quieted by the Dubs’ dominant performance. From that moment on, Golden State went on to win three more NBA titles, while Los Angeles has yet to win one despite having star-studded rosters on numerous occasions.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.