Golden State’s Klay Thompson speaks in complimentary tones about the Clippers

Clippers Warriors Basketball

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by the Clippers’ J.J. Redick during Wednesday’s game at Oracle Arena in Oakland/AP photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez

 

The Golden State Warriors won all four games against the Clippers this season, six consecutive dating to this past season. After his Warriors defeated the Clippers 114-98 on Wednesday at Golden State, guard Klay Thompson spoke in complimentary tones about how difficult that was to accomplish.

“It’s tough to sweep the same team four times, especially against one of the better teams in the league, so we’re proud of it,” he said. “It’s a team we’ll face down the line, so it’s always great to sweep a team; it’s not easy.”

There is a strong chance the Clippers and Warriors will meet in the second round of the playoffs. Although Wednesday’s was a 16-point margin, the other three games this season were much closer as the Warriors won by four (112-108), seven (124-117) and three (115-112) points.

Five things to take from Clippers’ 114-98 loss at Golden State

The Clippers’ Chris Paul dribbles by Golden State’s Stephen Curry on Wednesday. Paul scored 13 points and shot 4- of 16 from the floor.

Chris Paul looks to the basket during the Clippers’ 114-98 loss at Golden State/AP photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez

 

– When your two starting guards shoot a combined 8 of 29, it’s nearly impossible to beat a team like the Warriors (64-7), who have now won 51 consecutive regular-season home games and moved a step closer to having the best regular-season record in history. That came in 1995-96 when the Chicago Bulls went 72-10. Chris Paul shot 4 of 16, J.J. Redick shot 4 of 13. Both were 1 of 6 from 3-point range. Both accepted blame.

DeAndre Jordan had a fine game. The hard-playing Jordan scored 19 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked two shots. His coach, Doc Rivers, said he was the most dominant player on the floor. Jordan also doled out three assists.

– The Clippers’ starting forwards – Paul Pierce and Luc Mbah a Moute – did not provide much to this game. Pierce played just under 17 minutes and scored only three points on 1 of 3 shooting. He had three rebounds. Mbah a Moute played only 8 1/2 minutes, took two shots and scored two points with one rebound.

– Golden State’s Splash Brothers – Steph Curry and Klay Thompson – killed the Clippers. Curry scored 33 points and shot 12 of 23 – 4 of 10 from 3-point range. Thompson had 32 points on 12 of 21 from the field and made 7 of 10 from deep. Curry also had five assists and three steals. When those two are going like that, forget about it.

– Rivers said after the game that he liked the spirit with which his team played. He said that, indeed, his two guards not shooting well was a big reason why the Clippers lost. He also said that there were several defensive mistakes his players made after they got to within seven points in the fourth quarter. The bottom line is, the Clippers went 1-4 on this road trip. That’s not the best scenario with the playoffs only three weeks away. The Clippers now take on Portland on Thursday in the first of a three-game homestand. The Clippers then play Denver on Sunday afternoon and the Boston Celtics on Monday night. If the Clippers (43-27) can get well at home, it could go a long way in erasing the memory of this unsuccessful trip.

VIDEO: Chris Paul dribbles through legs of Klay Thompson

Although the Clippers played hard Wednesday night at Golden State, all they had to show for it was a 114-98 loss to the Warriors, who are now 64-7.

The biggest reason why the Clippers (43-27) fell short is because their two starting guards – Chris Paul and J.J. Redick – shot a combined 8 of 29. Paul shot 4 of 16, Redick 4 of 13. Both were 1 of 6 from 3-point range.

Paul may not have been able to shoot on this night, but he was still able to come through with some trickery during the early moments of the game. Check out Paul dribbling through the legs of Golden State’s Klay Thompson. And look at Thompson’s reaction. It was like he was saying, “Which way did he go?”

 

Five things to take from Clippers’ 115-112 loss to Golden State

 

2016-02-20 Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson scored a game-high 32 points for the Warriors on Saturday in their 115-112 win over the Clippers/Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA Today

 

Jeff Green did not have a good debut for the Clippers. He scored five points on just 2 of 7 shooting. He had two rebounds, one assist and three turnovers in just under 20 minutes. But once he’s acclimated, expect him to take one of the starting forward spots currently held by Paul Pierce and Luc Mbah a Moute. Once Blake Griffin returns, expect both Pierce and Mbah a Moute to be coming off the bench.

– Speaking of Pierce and Mbah a Moute, they didn’t bring much to this game. Mbah a Moute played just under 13 minutes and had no points on one shot attempt, zero rebounds and one turnover. Pierce scored two points on 1 of 7 shooting in just under 16 minutes. Pierce had no rebounds, two assists, one turnover and four personal fouls.

– Kudos to the reserves for bringing the Clippers back from a 16-point deficit with 2:27 to play. Doc Rivers admitted the team had a timeout it could have used after the steal that led to C.J. Wilcox’s long-distance shot at the buzzer that would have tied the game had it gone in. But he said it all happened so quick and, besides, Rivers correctly noted, that’s not why they lost the game. They were out-played by a great team for most of it. That’s why they lost.

– The biggest Clippers killer in this one was not Steph Curry, but his Splash Brothers compadre Klay Thompson. Thompson scored a game-high 32 points on 11 of 22 shooting – 4 of 9 from distance – made all six of his free throws, pulled down seven rebounds, doleld out three assists and made three steals. The cherry on top – he had zero turnovers in nearly 40 minutes.

Chris Paul left the game with 4:47 to play with a thigh bruise. Afterward, he said, “I’ll be all right. I’ll definitely be ready by Monday.” Paul had 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and just one turnover in nearly 35 minutes of this one.

Warriors lead Clippers 63-53 at halftime at Staples Center

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

Jamal Crawford scored 15 points and Chris Paul scored 12, but the Golden State Warriors took a 63-53 into the locker room at halftime Saturday at Staples Center.

Klay Thompson scored 18 to lead the Warriors and Steph Curry scored 13.

Clippers’ J.J. Redick selected to participate in 3-point contest

J.J. Redick/Staff photo by John McCoy

 

Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick has been selected to participate in the 3-point contest during All-Star weekend in Toronto. The event will take place on Feb. 13 at Air Canada Centre, the day before the game is played there.

Redick leads the NBA in field-goal percentage from beyond the arc at 48.2 percent (120 of 249).

Joining Redick in the eight-man field will be Steph Curry and Klay Thompson of Golden State, Chris Bosh of Miami, James Harden of Houston, Kyle Lowry of Toronto, Devin Booker of Phoenix and Khris Middleton of Milwaukee.

Curry leads the NBA in made 3-pointers with 232. He is the defending champion of this contest.