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A night after letting a game slip away to the Detroit Pistons, the Golden State Warriors bounced back, with style, blowing out the Los Angeles Clippers 141-113 to complete their second back-to-back of the season.
Turnovers were the main problem last night (26), but tonight they were able to tighten up, only allowing 12.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry was the star of the night, with 31 points, a season-high seven made 3-point shots, five rebounds and six assists.
In an interesting move, Curry and Kevin Durant played the entirety of the first quarter, sitting for the first half of the second. This revealed, again, a stark contrast — with the second unit barely treading water and scoring just 14 points in six minutes. When Curry and Durant subbed back in, the team scored 27 in the next six.
It became an offensive showcase that broke open the lead and was capped off by a fancy Curry layup that had no business, and every business, going in as he spun away under the basket.
Curry, Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jordan Bell proved to be a dynamic combination, with Bell getting a chance to showcase his many talents, racking up a dunk, a layup, a steal and an assist early in the game.
It also didn’t hurt that the Warriors limited themselves to just four turnovers in the first half — only one in the second quarter alone — as they took it to halftime with a 74-57 lead.
The second half started off with a bizarre pair of Zaza Pachulia offensive fouls, a quick third call on Curry, and an errant ball thrown to the scorers table by Green. Four quick turnovers in the first three minutes. But it leveled out again.
The Clippers went on a tear, briefly cutting the lead to single digits, before the Warriors clicked back into gear with a pair of unbelievable JaVale McGee finishes:
The air up there pic.twitter.com/n2aCBIWynt
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 31, 2017
There was also Curry, who went for 15 points on the quarter. He had four 3-point shots, including a buzzer-beater, in true Steph fashion. All of this prompted an honest-to-goodness “Warriors” chant and eventually an “MVP” chant for Curry at Staples Center. (Followed by hearty boos from Clippers fans.) We’ve truly seen it all.
.@StephenCurry30 with the buzzer-beating SPLASH! #BeforeTheLight pic.twitter.com/SQSenjTn8y
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 31, 2017
They sailed into the final quarter with a 21-point lead.
The fourth quarter started off much the same, and included an early 3-point shot from Green; much to his delight, as he has been struggling from downtown so far this season.
Ball movement results in a Draymond trey pic.twitter.com/GQ9NXxjPVu
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 31, 2017
This was followed shortly by Patrick McCaw’s first three of the season, as the second unit made a show of what was essentially garbage time. David West three? Hell yes. Bell put-back dunk? Insert it into my veins.
Great minds think alike, after all:
Nick Young logo 3 miss, Bell enormous putback, David West 3... so I see the game has reached the conceptual art stage.
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) October 31, 2017
What did the rim ever do to you @1jordanbell?! pic.twitter.com/jRyrT94L85
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 31, 2017
If McGee’s 3-point attempt late in the quarter had gone in, you guys might have had to resuscitate me.
Ahh, that felt good. Though the rivalry might not be legitimate anymore, it always feels good to hand the Clippers a nearly 30-point loss.
Poll
Who was the Warrior Wonder for the Warriors’ beatdown of the Clippers?
This poll is closed
-
1%
Zaza Pachulia
-
39%
Draymond Green
-
1%
Kevin Durant
-
0%
Klay Thompson
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45%
Steph Curry
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0%
Shaun Livingston
-
0%
Andre Iguodala
-
5%
Jordan Bell
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0%
Nick Young
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1%
JaVale McGee
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0%
Omri Casspi
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1%
Patrick McCaw
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0%
David West