The Golden State Warriors dropped back to.500 on Wednesday night after losing 130-125 to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Dubs are currently 26-26 on the season, two games behind the Lakers for the ninth slot and only 1.5 games ahead of the Jazz for the tenth spot.
Before everything went wrong for the club, Steph Curry succeeded in setting yet another NBA record. Having shot 15 of 31 from the field to lead the Warriors with 41 points, Curry made NBA history by being the first player to make at least seven three-pointers in four straight games. But even it pales in comparison to what Curry accomplished in the warm-ups before the game.
The opening quarter saw the Warriors seize control of the game, and they wouldn’t let it back until the fourth. Late in the second quarter, Golden State pulled ahead by 15 points, but a careless few minutes by the Clippers saw them close the deficit to seven points at the half.
Early in the third quarter, things for the Warriors grew considerably worse. Just as Dubs forward Draymond Green was about to head-butt Ivica Zubac with an elbow, the Clippers closed the gap to three points and headed for the locker room.
The Dubs regained a double-digit lead thanks to a suԀԀen оffensive burst from Curry that stopped the Clippers’ momentum. Moses Moody also had a strong few minutes of play off the bench. Green returned to the game after receiving the all-clear for a concussion before the third quarter ended.
After Mason Plumlee struck Brandin Podziemski in the arm and chest while attempting a steаl, there was a long silence, then Podz struck his hand as if he had been struck in the face. After the whistle, Plumlee was assessed a flagrant one for his Һit on Podziemski, while Jonathan Kuminga was given a technical charge for lightly shoving Plumlee. Clippers coach Ty Lue was eventually removed.
After the interval, Paul George spearheaded a 15-2 run by the Clippers, giving them a 111-110 lead with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. Curry responded with a triple, but 90 seconds later, Norman Powell made a corner three, giving the Clippers the lead once more.
Even after George fouled out on the next possession, the Warriors’ dismal performance in the fourth quarter persisted. Powell drained a three-pointer from the other corner to put Golden State in a hole they would not be able to escape after two possessions.
The Warriors had suԀԀenly let another lead slip away. With 40 seconds left, Podziemski—who finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists—cut the Dubs’ deficit to three points, but Klay Thompson foolishly fouled Russell Westbrook instead of letting Golden State play defence, where a stop would have allowed them to tie the game. Rather, Westbrook converted both of his free throws, ending the game.
The Warriors still have an opportunity to start the All-Star break with some momentum even though their five-game winning streak is over. The Dubs return to Salt Lake City on Thursday for the last game of the first half after defeating the Utah Jazz by a score of 22 points on Monday night.
