Coming into Game 6 the Warriors were on the ropes. After a disappointing performance in Game 5, Steph Curry and company were looking to send this series back to Los Angeles. The Clippers wanted to end this in Oakland and begin preparing for the next series. While the Warriors would be the underdog in Game 7, they would be putting all the pressure on the Clippers to defend their home court, but first they had to tie this series at three games a piece.
First Quarter
The Clippers came out of the gates fast and they went on a 10-2 run to the start the quarter. Curry brought the team back with seven points in the first six minutes. Both teams cooled off after a first start and Curry was able to tie the game at 16 by knocking down a three point shot. The team would continue to trade baskets as the quarter winded down. Matt Barnes was an unlikely here for the Clippers in the first period, he led the way with eight points. Curry was a man on a mission in the first, he finished with 14 points and he was able to bring his team back after a slow start.
Second Quarter
Going into the second quarter the Warriors were on a run. They were hitting their open shots and playing with a lot of energy. The Clippers went cold to start the first and the Warriors took advatange. Baskets by Jermaine O’Neal and Jordan Crawford gave the Warriors a 31-25 lead with about nine minutes left in the quarter. Chris Paul and J.J. Redick were able to bring the Clippers back and take a 36-35 lead with less than six minutes left in the second. The Warriors quickly responded with a couple free throws and took the lead back. A couple threes by Redick and Barnes gave the Clippers a five point lead. Both teams would continue to battle and the Clippers took a 51-48 lead into halftime. Curry cooled off a bit and only scored four points, but Jordan Crawford had eight points. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Jermaine O’Neal sprained his knee and did not return.
Third Quarter
Both teams were slow to start in the third quarter and they found themselves trading baskets in the early going. Redick and Barnes continued to be productive for the Clippers and the score was 57-53 lead after a Barnes layup. In the middle of the quarter Iguodala began making his impact on the game by scoring five quick points and bringing the Warriors within one. Curry started to get going a bit and the Warriors followed suit. With a little over a minute left in the quarter, the Warriors had a 69-62 lead. The Clippers responded with a Crawford three and a Darren Collison jump-shot. The Clippers would close the quarter with a 70-67 lead. Curry led all scorers with 22 points at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter
The fourth started with free throws and the game was tied at 70. Both teams were active to start the fourth, but the Warriors were able to recapture the lead with baskets by Barnes, Lee, and Green. The Clippers stayed in the game with Collison and Griffin scoring a couple of buckets. With the absence of O’Neal, Marreese Speights filled in quite nicely and scored five points in about 30 seconds. The Warriors would able to maintain their lead throughout the quarter. Andre Iguodala was big in the fourth, scoring some key buckets after the Clippers made a run of their own. Green and Barnes were able to hit some clutch free throws, which proved to be important because the Clippers kept fighting until the final buzzard. The Warriors won 100-99 and Curry finished with 24 points and nine assists. Iguodala, Green, and Speights all finished with double figures and now the series moves to Los Angeles.