Balanced Clippers hold off slumping, short-handed Warriors

28.12.2024 08:55

DailyNews.com

Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, celebrates with teammate James Harden, back, after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their 102-92 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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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 even though 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 in which the Warriors led twice, the Clippers needed a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 102-92 victory, improving to 3-0 against the Warriors this season.

“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.”

Two-time league MVP Curry was given the night off – the first game of a back-to-back set – after playing 36 minutes in the Warriors’ Christmas Day loss to the Lakers. The Warriors host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

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

The Clippers also had their share of players on the injury list. All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who is close to returning from a season-long knee issue, remains 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 surrender.

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

Kuminga made it a four-point game (87-83) on a layup with 3:37 remaining, but Norman Powell buried a 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 90-85 lead. Kris Dunn then made one of two free throws for a 91-85 cushion.

Golden State got within 91-88 on a 3-pointer by Moses Moody with 2:30 remaining, but the Clippers (18-13) held off any further challenges by the Warriors (15-15) to win their second consecutive game and their fourth in the past five games.

“We stuck together,” Powell said. “Nobody was pointing fingers. Everybody had a hand in a few mess-ups down the stretch, allowing ’em back into the game. But we were able to come together and not let the mistakes deter us. We were able to calm down and figure out what they were doing with the press and their pressure and get the baskets when we needed it.”

Not helping the Clippers were their 12 turnovers in the fourth quarter and 23 overall that led to 25 points for the Warriors.

“I thought we got some good shots early, but we just didn’t handle their pressure in the second half,” Lue said. “So, in that fourth quarter they picked up a full-court run and jump and we didn’t handle it well and they were able to get back in the game.

“But I give our guys credit, they kept their composure. They stuck with it, figured out what they needed to do, and we were able to win the game. We knew that with Steph being out, Draymond being out it wouldn’t be an easy win.”

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 had 18 points, seven assists and three rebounds as six Clippers scored in double figures.

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 Clippers guard Amir Coffey near the Warriors’ bench.

A minute earlier, Harden had been called for a hard offensive foul on Podziemski. Harden and Lindy Waters III were assessed technical fouls, and fans then booed Podziemski whenever he touched the ball the rest of the way.

“It was a big win for us however you look at it,” Lue said. “In three days, though, I won’t remember how we won. I’ll just know that it was a W.”

Kuminga led Golden State with a career-high 34 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Jackson-Davis had 15 points and nine rebounds. Guard Dennis Schroder, playing in his fifth game with Golden State since being acquired in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, had seven points and five assists. The Warriors shot 37% from the floor, but they outrebounded the Clippers 47-39, grabbing 19 offensive boards.

Whatever advantage the Clippers thought they had against Curry-less lineup was erased early as the visitors pushed the Clippers to play their starters heavy minutes in the first half.

Powell played all of the second quarter and 20 minutes total in the first half, while Harden was on the court for the entire first quarter and 19 minutes overall. Both had 10 points each as the Clippers held a slim 49-43 lead at the half.

The extra minutes didn’t bother the Clippers’ stars. The team was coming off three days off and have another two off before traveling to play a back-to-back series against the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs.

The rest – not rust – was evident as the half played out.

Trailing 41-40, Harden buried a 3-pointer to give his team the lead. After a layup by Jackson-Davis, Amir Coffey and Harden hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Clippers a six-point lead at halftime.

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