The Los Angeles Clippers staked their claim to be a real force in the Western Conference with an emphatic 134-126 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Clippers emerged victorious in a matchup of two teams, thanks to a big performance from two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard scored 30 points, while Paul George added 24 as the Clippers, after a five-game losing run, increased their winning streak to four games. For the Clippers, Terance Mann contributed 17 points, Eric Gordon had 16, and Russell Westbrook scored 15.
The Warriors’ road woes continued despite a 50-point effort from Stephen Curry. The Clippers displayed their mettle early, jumping to a 28-23 lead after the first quarter. Golden State fought back to close the gap at halftime with 3 points, but the Clippers pulled away in the third quarter. The Clippers led 99-93 after three quarters and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the fourth.
Curry kept the Warriors in the game, shooting 20 of 28 from the field and eight of 14 from three-point range, but his efforts were not enough as the Warriors fell to their ninth straight road loss. The loss was incredibly disappointing for the Warriors, who wanted to gain ground on the Clippers and move up in the standings. The Clippers have won four in a row and are one of the hottest teams in the league.
Leonard and George are playing their best basketball of the season, and the Clippers’ role players are stepping up. If they can maintain their form, the Clippers could be a real threat to the top seeds in the West. The Warriors, meanwhile, must try to snap their road losing streak if they are to make the playoffs. The loss to the Clippers was a rare example of the Warriors being outplayed in all facets of the game. Curry made a heroic effort but could not carry the team to victory. The Warriors must now regroup and try to find a way to turn their road woes around before it is too late.