The Golden State Warriors recorded their 13th straight victory to start the National Basketball Association season by fighting back from a big deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-117 in a Western Conference thriller last night.
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Even though the 2015 Head Coach of the Year Steve Kerr won’t return to the sidelines until February – according to reports -, interim coach Luke Walton is doing as well, leading the Warriors to 12 wins in as many games to start off the season. Golden State can tie the 1993-94 Houston Rockets for best overall start in history at 15-0 with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
The Golden State Warriors are averaging 114.3 points on 48.4 percent shooting and allowing 99.8 points on 42.6 percent shooting.
The Warriors fell behind by many as 23 points in the second quarter while Paul was resting, but they did get a glimmer of hope.
The resilient Warriors chipped away and drew to within 91-85 heading into the final frame on Green’s period-ending three-pointer. Emmanuel Mudiay is dishing 6.3 assists and Kenneth Faried is grabbing 9.1 rebounds. Blake Griffin answered with a basket on the other end, but Lillard nailed another 3 and then pointed to his wrist as if to signal it was his time. James scored six points and Love had a three-point play in that stretch. Kirk Hinrich added 17 points, while Pau Gasol (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Nikola Mirotic (18 points and 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles. Teams either must concede room for a Curry 3-pointer, a mismatched switch, or a driving Green in space with which to work. Harrison Barnes added 20 points and nine rebounds, while Andre Iguodala came off the bench to score 13 points and grab five rebounds.
“We know we’re close, but close isn’t good enough”, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. But Golden State, who trailed 55-32 early in the second quarter, battled back, with reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry scoring 13 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter.
Rose, though, is dealing with a sprained left ankle that kept him out of Chicago’s 103-97 win at Phoenix on Wednesday that began a four-game road trip.
Jimmy Butler had 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a losing effort for Chicago (8-4). Jordan and Rivers were whistled for technical fouls 23 seconds apart, and Curry was able to hit four straight free throws to cut the lead to 15.
Not with Stephen Curry and the Warriors willing their way to a comeback.
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“The stats looked good but I’ve got to play better”.
