NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors

The fierce rivalry comes to the Oracle as the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors. In the previous two meetings, each team has taken home a win. Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin didn’t make the trip and won’t be in the lineup for the Clippers as he continues to miss games with his staph infection. The Warriors will look for their third win in a row after easily defeating the Dallas Mavericks. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will look to continue their success as the NBA’s best team.

Here’s our instant recap:

1st Quarter

JJ Redick came to Oracle Arena and started the game by hitting his first two buckets. The Warriors came out with great energy and Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson all had buckets early. They were trading basket for basket, but midway through the quarter the Clippers grabbed the lead and got it up to five. The trio of Thompson, Green and Barnes were carrying the Warriors throughout the quarter and although Redick was on fire, the Dubs were able to fight back and cut the lead to two with about four minutes left in the quarter. Both teams kept scoring and Redick was keeping the Clipper lead safe, until Klay Thompson hit a triple with four seconds left in the game that gave the Warriors a one point lead. The Dubs took a 29-29 lead into the second quarter.

2nd Quarter

The second quarter started and they both picked up where they left off. This was a track meet, but neither team could pull away, they both kept scoring the ball. The second unit was able to keep the momentum they had gained to end the first. Surprisingly, Steph Curry hit his first bucket with about five minutes left in the quarter. It was a pretty move by Curry that got CP# off his feet. That shot gave the Warriors the lead and it got the arena riled up. The Warriors then went on a 13-2 run and all of a sudden the Warriors had a 10 point lead with three minutes left in the half. Both teams got hot again as the quarter ended and the Warriors were able to escape with a seven point lead. The Dubs had a 57-50 lead going into the break.

3rd Quarter

Two names we kept hearing in the first quarter started off the second half with a bucket each, Green and Redick. Steph Curry had a quiet first half, but hit back to back triples to give the Warriors a 13 points lead. The Clippers responded with a string of buckets, but the Warriors were able to match them every step of the way. Draymond Green led the charge, and a three point play gave the Dubs a 15 point lead. The Clips kept fighting, but players like Iguodala and Livingston kept making plays. The Warriors ended the quarter on a 4-0 run, which gave them a 19 point lead. Curry had a great quarter as well, and he was responsible for getting the crowd off their feet. Going into the final period, the Warriors led 87-68.

4th Quarter

Leandro Barbosa got things going with a three to start the final period. The fast paced flow slowed down a bit and it looked like the Clippers had given up on the game. The starters were no longer in the game midway through the quarter, and it was up to Austin Rivers, Hedo Turkoglu to ignite a comeback. The Warriors just needed to hold on, but Rivers and Turkoglu actually cut the lead to 14 at one point. Luckily the Warriors always had a response and once again the lead was at 17 after a Barnes three. The Clipper reserves made it a close game, but it was too little too late.