November 19th 2024.
The Los Angeles Clippers have proven to be a major obstacle for the Golden State Warriors this season, causing them to stumble twice out of their three losses so far. In their latest matchup at the Intuit Dome, the Clippers displayed impressive shooting skills, matching the Warriors' 3-point performance and forcing 19 turnovers, just like in their previous game. Although the Warriors put up a strong fight in the third quarter, it wasn't enough to make up for a lackluster first half. Despite a valiant effort, they ultimately fell short with a final score of 102-99.
Steph Curry, who scored a game-high of 26 points, outshined James Harden on the court, but the Warriors' missed opportunities and turnovers cost them the win. "We lost it in the first quarter," Curry stated in a postgame interview. "We were rushing on offense, and it's become a bit of a trend when playing against the Clippers. We've had a total of 40 turnovers in just two games against them. It's a tough situation to be in because it dictates the momentum early on, leaving us at the mercy of makes and misses down the stretch."
The Clippers' aggressive defense proved to be a major challenge for the Warriors, causing them to commit four turnovers within the first five minutes of the game, just like in their previous matchup. In fact, in their previous loss against the Clippers, the Warriors had a season-high of 21 turnovers. They have an undefeated record of 8-0 when committing 15 or fewer turnovers in a game. The Warriors were also struggling with their pace and split actions, leading to deflected passes and missed opportunities.
Despite their initial struggles, the Warriors managed to make a comeback in the second quarter, thanks to their bench players, who brought much-needed energy and pace to the game. With Kevon Looney out due to illness, Kyle Anderson stepped up as the small-ball center, playing with great force and intensity. However, their turnovers continued to hurt them, and their poor performance from the foul line also cost them valuable points. Jonathan Kuminga missed three free throws, and Trayce Jackson-Davis went 0-for-2, contributing to the Warriors' league-low free throw percentage. By the end of the game, they shot only 9-for-19 from the foul line.
As the Warriors' starters returned to the court in the second quarter, they were unable to stop the Clippers' 11-2 run, leading to a 50-36 deficit. The Clippers were on fire from beyond the arc, hitting nine of their 15 3-pointers by that point. Draymond Green, who had just made his second 3-pointer of the night, committed an illegal screen, adding to the Warriors' turnover count. "You can't defend those turnovers," Green admitted in a postgame interview. "I was awful."
The Warriors' struggles continued into the final seconds of the first half, as Norman Powell breezed past Jonathan Kuminga for a buzzer-beating layup, giving the Clippers an 11-point lead at halftime. "I didn't feel like we really started playing until the second half," Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated. "We wasted a lot of possessions in the first half, which ultimately cost us the game."
The second half saw a rejuvenated Warriors team, with Curry leading the charge. After scoring only eight points in the first half, Curry came out hunting for shots and nailed three 3-pointers in just four minutes, bringing the Warriors within five points of the Clippers. His third 3-pointer, made after a handoff from Jackson-Davis in the corner, was a spectacular shot, with Curry falling out of bounds as he released the ball. The Warriors' bench players, including Kuminga and Anderson, continued the momentum, tying the game at 72 by the end of the third quarter. The Warriors, known for their strong third quarters, outscored the Clippers 27-19 in this period, thanks to better decision-making and defensive efforts.
However, the fourth quarter proved to be a challenge for the Warriors, as the Clippers were prepared to counter their pushes. Powell answered Lindy Waters III's 3-pointer with one of his own, maintaining a seven-point lead for the Clippers. Despite Curry's spectacular performance, scoring a rainbow 3-pointer and a finger roll inside, the Clippers were quick to respond with five points of their own, thanks to Harden and Powell. The Warriors' turnovers resurfaced, resulting in a 10-point deficit, but they never gave up. Thanks to a strong defensive effort, they managed to cut down the deficit to just three points with a chance to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, Curry and Gary Payton II both missed their 3-point attempts, and the Warriors couldn't break through. Kerr stated that the officials didn't hear him trying to call a timeout to draw up a play, but he commended Payton for taking the shot. In the end, the Warriors fell short once again, with a final score of 102-99.
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