The Golden State Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 114-101

SAN FRANCISCO – After suffering from slow starts, this time around, the Warriors couldn’t close out the game.

After coach Steve Kerr called out the Warriors for their efforts while trailing early in their last game against the Lakers, they responded by jumping out to a 17-point halftime lead against the Clippers.

It all came crashing down after halftime in a 114-101 loss.

Kris Dunn drained a corner 3 on the first possession of the fourth quarter, giving the Clippers their first lead since the start of the first half, and he scored nine of his 16 points after halftime.

In an almost exclusive matchup against Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard’s streak of 20 or more goals in 37 games appeared to be in serious jeopardy — until he exploded for 15 in the second half to finish with 23. Benedict Mathurin added 15 after halftime to finish with 17, and Darius Garland contributed 12 in his Clippers debut.

Golden State controlled its defense from the beginning and converted six passes into nine points to preserve the Clippers’ lead 7 from 24 from the field while jumping out to a 31-19 lead after the point.

Brandin Podzemski scored 20 points in the first half but added just two points to that total after halftime. Al Horford finished with 17 points, a team-best 11 in the second half, but Golden State was unable to make up the gap.

The Warriors committed 10 turnovers that led to 17 points and shot 15-of-45 (33.3%) from the field as they watched a 56-42 halftime lead turn into a double-digit rout.

What does it mean

The Warriors and Clippers are now only a game and a half apart in the Western Conference playoffs. Los Angeles is currently ranked ninth, and if Ty Lue’s team can get past Golden State, it will send the Warriors into a 9-10 game.

The two teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season.

turning point

When Leonard stepped back and drained his first bucket of the second half.

The Warriors were still up 58-44 at the time, one minute into the third quarter. By the beginning of the fourth quarter, Golden State’s lead had been reduced to 79-77.

The Warriors never regained the lead after Dunn knocked down a 3 to start the fourth.

Most Valuable Player: Nate Williams

from? The Warriors rookie — who signed a two-way contract on Feb. 17 — scored 15 points in 17 minutes in just his second game with Golden State.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard who attended nearby Prolific Prep (Napa) also at times turned on Leonard, even forcing him into a steal and fouling a loose ball that sent him to the foul line.

It wasn’t a career high for the 27-year-old but it was his best NBA game since he was a rookie with the Rockets in 2022-23.

Match statistics: -18

Kerr strategically distributed Green’s minutes to fit the Clippers’ best option, and it worked – for the most part – in the first half. Green faced Leonard throughout the game, and Golden State was plus-seven in his minutes before halftime – minus-2 to Leonard.

Just like the scoreboard, which flipped over in the second half.

Green finished the game with 18 while Leonard had plus-16.

the next

The Warriors will play three games, starting Thursday at Rockets Stadium. It will be difficult to win without Curry in Houston, or against the Thunder on Saturday, but they end the trip with an easy matchup against the Jazz in Utah.

In addition to Curry, whose first return will be on March 13, it has not been determined whether Kristaps Porzingis will make the trip after missing a fifth straight game with an illness that Kerr described as “a little bit of a mystery.”