The Golden State Warriors went into Sunday night’s game against the LA Clippers knowing they were in for their biggest challenge of the year. Sure, they were at home for the first time this season, and yes, they faced a Clippers team that was without Kawhi Leonard. But after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in their season opener and defeating the Utah Jazz on Friday night, the Dubs were in for their first tough game of the year. And that’s exactly what they got.

Ironically, the Dubs flipped the script early in the game. Through their two lopsided wins, Golden State’s only weakness was early in the game as their new-look starting lineup struggled to find rhythm. But in this case there were no such fights. They forced a stop on their first defensive possession of the game, with Steph Curry sinking a three-pointer on their first offensive possession. Although the Clippers scored seven straight points, the Warriors responded with six straight points of their own. Ivica Zubac hurt them inside, but the big starting XI, which had spacing issues, looked good from beyond the arc.

After a strong quarter from Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors led 17-13… and the starting eleven were able to stay in the game for seven minutes, with Steve Kerr not having to go to the bench so early thanks to their strong play.

From then on the teams played an entertaining, fast-paced game. James Harden sat with Derrick Jones Jr. eating for the Clippers as the Warriors pressed at every opportunity. At the end of the quarter we all held our breath as the game ended in a tie 34-34.

And then it went downhill and never fully recovered.

Behind a pure bench unit, the Dubs had major problems at the start of the second quarter. LA scored the first seven points of the frame, which led to a timeout by Kerr. The run to start the quarter reached 9-0 before the Warriors finally scored, and they turned the ball over four times before putting anything on the scoreboard.

After eight minutes, Buddy Hield broke the run with a basket and soon added a four-point play, to which the Warriors responded with an 8-0 run and forced a timeout for the Clippers. Zubac still dominated the Warriors on the glass, but Golden State’s defense kept getting stronger…until it didn’t. The Clippers continued their own 8-0 run as the Warriors continued to turn the ball over. With about two and a half minutes left, LA extended their lead to 11 points before Golden State went on a 7-0 run… it was a quarter run!

But the Clippers did better with their runs and led 59-54 at halftime, with the Warriors losing a quarter for the first time this season.

In the third quarter, the struggles began to resemble disaster. Again, the Warriors started slowly, with four early turnovers and a very early Gregg Popovich-style timeout by Kerr. But then the offense got going and Wiggins led the charge again with a brilliant performance. But it was a back-and-forth affair, as LA’s offense – again led by Jones, Harden and Zubac – matched the Warriors blow for blow. The game seemed to be living with a 4-9 point lead, and then things got very bad, with the one thing no one wanted to see: a Curry injury.

Curry twisted his ankle and, in visible pain, walked to the bench, where trainer Rick Celebrini worked on him while Curry used a resistance band. By now, LA had pushed the lead back into double digits, but the Dubs responded with a 6-0 run… only for Norman Powell to end the quarter with a game-winning three-pointer, ending the run and giving LAC an 86-79 lead . It would be the Warriors’ first competitive fourth quarter of the season.

They started the final frame looking good, but the shots weren’t falling. LA extended the lead back to double digits, with Kerr calling a timeout with exactly eight minutes left and the Clippers leading by ten. Good news awaited everyone when the timeout ended: Curry was back in touch.

The good news was short-lived. Just seconds after returning, Curry twisted his ankle and threw a screen. He immediately left the game and limped to the locker room, with the Warriors keeping him out of the game with a sprained left ankle.

Golden State didn’t want Curry’s injury to go to waste. They reacted to the departure of their star and put up quite a fight. A Wiggins three capped a 10-run run by the Warriors and brought Golden State within one point with about four minutes left. But the Clippers responded with a closing sequence of their own: field goals from Harden and Powell capped a blocked Buddy Hield jumper.

From there, the Warriors continued to struggle but lacked enough offensive firepower. The shots didn’t fall, they couldn’t contain Zubac and they would lose 112-104.

Wiggins’ phenomenal play propelled the Warriors forward as he finished the game with 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting, including 5-for-8 from long range. But only three other Warriors reached double figures: 18 points for Curry, 12 for Jonathan Kuminga and 10 for Kevon Looney. While the offense looked fluid and seamless in the first two games and throughout the preseason, the Dubs were harassed by LA’s active defense, which turned the ball over a whopping 21 times…while recording just 19 assists. Given that they lost Curry to injury and had more turnovers than assists, it’s a small miracle that they were still in the game in the final minutes.

Zubac enjoyed Golden State, finishing the game with 23 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, while Harden finished with 23 points and 11 assists, albeit due to poor shooting… and five turnovers. Powell scored 20 points and Jones 18 as LA’s starting unit defeated Golden State’s 86-65.

The Warriors now get a day off before they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday and Wednesday. And until then, all eyes are on Curry, and Kerr said after the game that the sprain was “mild or moderate” and that the two-time MVP will have an MRI tonight.

Fingers crossed.