NBA referee Ben Taylor left the Warriors-Clippers play-in tournament game Wednesday night due to an injury. Taylor walked stiffly off the court at Intuit Dome with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter. The incident caused a brief delay before alternate referee Sean Corbin took his place during this critical elimination game.

The NBA maintains a system of fourth alternate officials specifically for postseason scenarios like this. Taylor, an 11-year NBA veteran, was unable to continue working the contest. Corbin stepped in for his 31st season on the job. The league's preparedness ensured smooth continuation despite the unexpected personnel change.

At halftime, the ninth-seeded Clippers held a 61-53 lead over the 10th-seeded Warriors. This winner-take-all contest determines which team advances to the playoffs and which season ends. The referee change came during a pivotal stretch as the teams battled for postseason positioning in the Western Conference.