The Golden State Warriors suffered a defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 130-125 on Wednesday night, causing their win-loss record to return to an even 50%. With a current record of 26-26, the Dubs are currently behind the Lakers by two games for the ninth position. Additionally, they are maintaining a narrow lead of 1.5 games over the Jazz for the 10th seed.
Steph Curry accomplished another unprecedented feat in the NBA before the team’s performance deteriorated. Curry, after scoring 41 points by making 15 out of 31 shots, becoming the first player in the history of the league to successfully make at least seven three-pointers in four consecutive games while leading the Warriors. However, even that is not as remarkable as Curry’s performance during pregame warmups.
The Warriors established dominance in the game from the beginning, securing a lead in the first quarter that they maintained until the fourth. Golden State established a 15-point advantage towards the end of the second quarter. However, a period of careless play resulted in the Clippers reducing the lead to seven points at halftime.
The situation became more precarious for the Warriors in the early stages of the third quarter. As the Clippers reduced the deficit to three points, Warriors’ forward Draymond Green was struck in the head by Ivica Zubac’s elbow before proceeding to the locker room.
Curry’s rapid offensive outburst effectively halted the Clippers’ momentum, while Moses Moody’s noteworthy performance during his brief stint as a substitute contributed to the Warriors’ reestablishment of a lead with a margin of at least ten points. Prior to the conclusion of the third quarter, Green had received medical clearance for a concussion and had returned to the basketball court.
Following Mason Plumlee’s attempt to grab the ball, there was a significant delay as Brandin Podziemski was struck on the arm and chest. Podz reacted as if he had been smacked in the face. Ty Lue, the coach of the Clippers, was ultimately dismissed from the game. Plumlee received a flagrant one foul for his forceful contact with Podziemski, while Jonathan Kuminga was assessed a technical foul for gently pushing Plumlee after the play had stopped.
After the break, Paul George spearheaded a 15-2 surge by the Clippers, resulting in a 111-110 advantage with less than five minutes remaining in regular play. Curry responded with a three-point shot, however, Norman Powell quickly made a three-point shot from the corner 90 seconds later, resulting in the Clippers regaining the lead.
George committed a foul that resulted in his being disqualified from the game on the following play. However, the Warriors’ collapse in the fourth quarter persisted still. Powell’s shot from the opposite corner extended Golden State’s deficit to a margin of two possessions, from which they were unable to recover.
In an abrupt manner, the Warriors had relinquished yet another advantage. Podziemski, who scored 25 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and made 8 assists, reduced the Dubs’ disadvantage to three points with just 40 seconds left. However, Klay Thompson inexplicably committed a foul on Russell Westbrook instead of letting Golden State defend, which would have given them a chance to tie the game if they had made a stop. However, Westbrook successfully converted both free throws, effectively concluding the game.
Although the five-game winning streak has ended, the Warriors still possess the opportunity to carry some positive momentum into the All-Star break. Following a decisive victory against the Utah Jazz with a margin of 22 points on Monday night, the Golden State Warriors have returned to Salt Lake City for the concluding game of the first half on Thursday.