Five things to take from Clippers’ 124-117 loss to the Warriors

Josh Smith of the Clippers fouls the Warriors’ Festus Ezeli during Thursday’s game/Staff photo by Hans Gutknecht

 

– It’s true the Clippers were playing a great team in the Warriors, so the problem wasn’t so much losing a 23-point second-quarter lead. Rather, it was being outscored 25-8 over the final 5:54. The Clippers were up 109-99 at that point and scored just eight more points. That can’t happen.

– In the amazing statistic department, the Warriors shot 56.7 from 3-point range, making 17 of 30. Moreover, they made 8 of 9 in the decisive fourth quarter. That’s 88.9 percent. Seriously?

– Except for shooting for a better free-throw percentage than usual – he was 5 of 8 – DeAndre Jordan was almost a non-factor in this one. He scored just nine points on four field-goal attempts, pulled down 10 rebounds and had zero blocks. He’s averaging 12.6 rebounds – down from 15.0 a season ago – and 2.7 blocks.

– When you shoot 50 percent from the field overall and 44.8 (13 of 29) like the Clippers did, you expect to win. The Clippers lost, and by now they might be wondering how the heck they are ever going to beat the Warriors. The Clippers led them by 10 in the fourth quarter at their place Nov. 4 and lost by four. The Clippers led them twice by 23 points in the second quarter of this one and, again, by 10 midway through the fourth – and lost both times.

– If we don’t take the time to tip our cap to Golden State’s Steph Curry, we wouldn’t be doing our job. Curry scored 40 points after scoring just three in the first quarter because he took two early fouls. He scored 13 of his points in the fourth. He also had three steals. To top it off, the 6-foot-3 guard led everyone with 11 rebounds. Yes, he had seven turnovers. So he’s not perfect.