INGLEWOOD — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue knew better. He knew the Golden State Warriors were too talented to take lightly — Steph Curry or no Steph Curry.

Lue knew that just because the Warriors came into the Intuit Dome on Friday having lost two consecutive games and 11 of their past 14, they weren’t going to walk out without giving the Clippers something to think about.

After a tight first half when the Warriors led twice, the Clippers needed a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 102-92 victory at the Intuit Dome.

“We can never get comfortable ... they’re 4-1 when Steph doesn’t play,” Lue said. “So, that says a lot about (coach) Steve Kerr and the coaching staff over there. They beat some good opponents when he has sat out.

“So, we’re not looking past Golden State. We’re not saying that it’s going to be an easy game because Steph is out because Steve’s done a great job, just whoever’s on the floor, they’re going to play hard, they’re going to play well.”

Curry was given the night off — the first game of a back-to-back — after playing 36 minutes in the Warriors’ Christmas Day loss against the Lakers. The Warriors play the Phoenix Suns at home today.

Golden State was also missing Draymond Green, who was a game-time decision because of a lower back contusion, and Gary Payton II, who is nursing a calf strain.

The Clippers also had their share of players on the injury list. Kawhi Leonard, who is close to returning from a season-long knee issue, was out along with Terance Mann (finger), Kevin Porter Jr. (illness) and Kobe Brown (back).

Unlike the Warriors, the Clippers started the same lineup that has played much of the season, and they came up big in the second half.

The Clippers used a balanced attack to open a 21-point lead, 81-60, by the end of the third quarter but the Warriors weren’t ready to leave.

Much to the delight of the large number of Warriors fans, Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis fueled a late run as Golden State cut the lead to seven, 87-80, with 4:36 left in the game.

Kuminga further trimmed the lead to 87-83 with a layup with 3:37 remaining, but Norman Powell buried a 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 90-85 lead. Kris Dunn made one of two free throws for a 91-85 cushion.

Golden State again made it close, 91-88, on a 3-pointer by Moses Moody, but the Clippers (18-13) held off any further challenges by the Warriors (15-15) to win their second consecutive game and fourth in five games.

Powell led the Clippers with 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting, while Ivica Zubac had his seventh straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Harden scored 18 points and had seven assists and three rebounds.

Without Curry, who has been averaging 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals, the Warriors struggled to score against the Clippers’ fifth-rated defense and tempers flared briefly when Brandon Podziemski knocked over Amir Coffey near the Warriors bench.

A minute earlier, Harden was called for a hard offensive foul on Podziemski.

Kuminga led Golden State with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jackson-Davis had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Guard Dennis Schroder, playing in his fifth game since being traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Warriors, had seven points and five assists.