NBA News Wire
Warriors 109, Clippers 105
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Guard Klay Thompson scored 22 points and forward David Lee added 20 points and 13 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors surprised the Los Angeles Clippers with a 109-105 victory in the opening round of the Western Conference quarterfinals Saturday before a sellout crowd of 19,339 at Staples Center
Guard Stephen Curry and forward Harrison Barnes scored 14 apiece for the Warriors, who grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is Monday at Staples.
The Warriors prevailed despite blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. They led 98-88 after a layup by Lee midway through the final period, but the Clippers used a 15-4 surge to take a 103-102 lead after a free throw by guard Darren Collison with 2:10 left.
A 3-pointer by Barnes gave Golden State the lead again, but forward Blake Griffin, who was plagued by foul trouble, tied it at 105 with two free throws with 1:31 remaining.
It stayed that way until forward Draymond Green hit a pair of free throws for a 107-105 Warriors’ lead with 24 seconds left.
Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul turned the ball with 18.9 seconds remaining after being defended by Green before a free throw by Barnes gave Golden State a 108-105 advantage with 13.9 seconds left.
Paul, who led the Clippers with 28 points with eight assists and foul steals, missed two free throws with 11.9 seconds remaining, forcing the Clippers to foul Green. He missed both free throws, but in the ensuing scramble for the ball Collison stepped out of bounds with eight seconds left. A free throw by Thompson sealed it for Golden State.
The Warriors carried an 87-79 lead into the fourth quarter and led by as many as 11 before Los Angeles rallied.
Griffin, who fouled out with 48.3 seconds remaining, finished with 16 points and three rebounds in only 19 minutes.
Guard J.J. Redick scored 22 points, hitting eight of 11 shots from the floor, including four of five on 3-pointers. Center DeAndre Jordan had 11 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, but committed seven turnovers.
Golden State forward Andre Iguodala also was limited by foul trouble. Iguodala, who fouled out with 3:04 left, managed eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.
Clippers forward Danny Granger returned after missing nine games with a strained left hamstring, but was ineffective, scoring just three points on 1-of-6 shooting.
NOTES: Both coaches believe the animosity between their clubs is healthy. “It’s supposed to be edgy. It’s playoff basketball,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. … The officials apparently disagreed, calling a combined 29 fouls in the first half. … Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the offense of G Jamal Crawford will be a big key to his club’s success in the series. “He’s huge for us,” Rivers said. … Jackson said if he were not coaching the Warriors, he would pick the Clippers to win the series. … Golden State C Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely with a rib fracture and Jackson said he has no idea when or if Bogut will return. … Warriors PG Stephen Curry has scored 3-point baskets in 70 consecutive games, which ranks fifth on the career list, but well back of Kyle Korver’s record of 127 in a row.
