SAN FRANCISCO – There may not be a more true measure of an NBA staff’s legitimacy as a title contender than the way it performs in a late-season house sport towards an opponent dealing with the identical check.
The Warriors handed with rainbow colours Thursday night time, posting a 115-91 rout of a Los Angeles Clippers staff that entered the sport trailing them within the Western Conference standings by a fraction of a proportion level.
Golden State’s fourth consecutive win sends it three video games over .500 for the primary time this season.
Jordan Poole scored 34 factors to guide the Warriors, whereas Klay Thompson contributed 19 factors and a season-high 11 rebounds.
With Stephen Curry returning in a matter of days and maybe Andrew Wiggins shortly thereafter, the Warriors are completely transferring towards reliable contender standing.
Here are three observations from a sport that, all issues thought-about, is without doubt one of the most spectacular this season:
Another pivotal third quarter
The Warriors spent many of the first half on the ropes, restricted by a protracted and energetic LA protection to 33.3 p.c capturing from the sector, together with 13.6 p.c from distance.
Then got here the third quarter. The script flipped. The Warriors pulled their very own protection out of the basement and used it to fireside up their offense. For the second consecutive sport, it turned the sport of their favor.
Golden State held the Clippers, who scored 55 factors whereas capturing 50 p.c within the first half, to a preposterously low 18.2 p.c (4 of twenty-two) in third quarter. So discombobulated was LA that even open pictures have been bricks.
The Warriors pressured seven turnovers, off which they scored 12 factors. The posted a powerful 42-16 victory within the quarter whereas capturing 52 p.c, together with 50 p.c from deep.
JP’s spree
After a comparatively mundane first half, with 9 factors on 3-of-10 capturing, together with 0-of-3 from past the arc, Poole sizzled within the third quarter.
Sizzled may an understatement, as he scored 22 factors on 5-of-9 capturing, together with 4-of-8 from deep and 8-of-8 from the road – all in lower than 10 minutes. The Clippers have been cooked.
Much of the harm JP laid on LA got here in transition, profiting from glorious staff protection and compelled turnovers and turning them into bucket that energized the sellout crowd.
Poole’s 34 factors got here on 9-of-20 from the sector, together with 5-of-12 from distance, and 11-of-12 from the road.
JP was superb within the victory over Portland on Tuesday. He was even higher this time round.
Comebacks “R” Us
While the Warriors spend appreciable power speaking in regards to the want for higher protection, the Clippers strolled into their home and instantly delivered a tutorial. LA’s first-half protection was spectacular.
The Warriors took these classes and within the second half turned them up on the Clippers. Without mercy.
Trailing by double digits on the half, the Warriors rang up an astonishing 70-36 benefit within the second half – as a result of their protection arrived to save lots of them from themselves. LA after halftime shot 22.2 p.c from the sector, together with 13.6 p.c from distance.
This makes the second consecutive sport wherein the Warriors worn out a double-digit result in win by double digits. The Clippers met the identical destiny because the Trail Blazers did two nights earlier.
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The Warriors don’t need to make a behavior of this, however comebacks are good for a staff’s confidence, one thing they are going to want down the stretch.
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