Paul Pierce: Nov. 4 loss at Golden State can pay dividends in rematch

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

The Clippers were defeated by the Golden State Warriors 112-108 on Nov. 4 at Golden State. It was the smallest margin of victory so far for the 12-0 Warriors, who came from 10 down with 7:56 to play to emerge victorious.

Clippers small forward Paul Pierce on Wednesday before practice was asked if knowing that the Clippers almost beat Golden State on its home court gives them a certain level of confidence heading into Thursday’s rematch at Staples Center.

“I’m not sure, but we can use some things that we did well versus them,” Pierce said. “You know, each game is always played out different. You come with different strategies, you rotate different players, so just because you play them close one day doesn’t mean you;’re going to win or play them close the next day.

“That’s the thing about the game of basketball, it’s never scripted. It could turn out to be a completely different ballgame. But I know some of the things we did well, we can kind of go over that today in practice and see what we can do to strategize to play better.”

Pierce is expected to get his second consecutive start in this one after coming off the bench the first nine games.

The defending-champion Warriors are 12-0, the Clippers are 6-4.