The Los Angeles Clippers improved their season record to 2-1 with a 112-104 win over the Golden State Warriors, putting up a strong defensive showing to end the red-hot Warriors scoring streak. Both teams now have a 2-1 record to open the season but with different concerns emerging out of this game.
The Clippers were led by their interim star duo, as James Harden put up 23 points (6-19 FG), seven rebounds, and 11 assists while Ivica Zubac notched his third consecutive 20-point game with 23 points (10-19 FG), 18 rebounds, and six assists. Norman Powell chipped in 20 points (8-15 FG) of his own with summer addition Derrick Jones Jr. putting up 18 points (7-10 FG) and two steals.
The Warriors saw another great performance from Andrew Wiggins, who ended the night with 29 points (11-15 FG, 5-8 3PT) and led the Warriors on an incredible fourth-quarter run which nearly saw them pull off a comeback win. Stephen Curry left the game with an ankle injury but put up 18 points (6-11 FG, 4-7 3PT) and six assists before being ruled out. Kevon Looney had a solid performance off the bench with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals.
Here are three major takeaways from this Western Conference matchup.
Clippers’ Stat Leaders:
James Harden: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST (6-19 FG, 2-12 3PT, 9-9 FT)
Ivica Zubac: 23 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK (10-19 FG, 3-4 FT)
Norman Powell: 20 PTS, 1 REB, 1 BLK (8-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 2-3 FT)
Derrick Jones Jr.: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 2 STL (7-10 FG, 3-4 3PT, 1-2 FT)
Kris Dunn: 6 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 4 STL (3-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-1 FT)
Warriors’ Stat Leaders:
Andrew Wiggins: 29 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK (11-15 FG, 5-8 3PT, 2-3 FT)
Stephen Curry: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK (6-11 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2-2 FT)
Kevon Looney: 10 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL (4-9 FG, 2-4 FT)
Jonathan Kuminga: 12 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL (4-10 FG, 1-6 3PT, 3-6 FT)
The Clippers Defensive Identity Will Earn Them More Wins
The Clippers have proven that they’ll be among the best defenses in the NBA this season through their performances in the first week of the season. The Clippers forced the Warriors into 18 first-half turnovers while restricting the airspace they had in previous games to bomb threes.
The aggressive defense led to a season-low 32.6% from three-point range (14-43) for the Warriors, who won their first two games with a 35+ point margin.
Without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup or any other major offensive threat, the Clippers prioritized acquiring perimeter defenders such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn in the summer, with both players setting the defensive tone in this win.
Dunn notched four steals while Jones Jr. chipped in with two for six of the 11 steals the Clippers had as a team tonight. The Warriors ended the game with 21 turnovers to 19 assists, with the Clippers dominating them on the perimeter.
Aggression on the perimeter and Ivica Zubac’s reliable interior defense have given the Clippers a defensive rating of 105.4 (third-best in the NBA) to start the season and they’ll be hoping they can be a top-three defensive team all season as that’s their best route to being competitive.
James Harden Has Unlocked Ivica Zubac
The two best players for the Clippers to start the season have been James Harden and Ivica Zubac, as the guard-center duo have led the team and gotten solid results. This is arguably the best version of the 27-year-old Zubac we’ve ever seen, and it’s no coincidence that it’s happening on a short-handed Clippers roster with a point guard like Harden.
Zubac has averaged 22.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists through three games this season, with the center dominating inside against the small Warriors. Golden State was forced to play Kevon Looney to match Zubac, which further hurt their offense as they couldn’t spread the Clippers defenders out to continue their incredible outside shooting in this win.
Harden and Zubac’s pick-and-rolls have been great, with Harden generating 1.10 points per possession on PnRs this season. We know Zubac will rebound the ball as aggressively as any center in the NBA, but his offensive evolution based on how Harden feeds him in the post could be a game-changer for the Clippers once Kawhi returns to the court.
Stephen Curry’s Injury Could Spell Trouble For The Warriors
Stephen Curry suffered through two worrying plays in this game which ultimately ruled him out of most of the fourth quarter with a cloudy future ahead of him. Curry rolled his ankle in the third quarter which led to a small break before returning in the fourth, where Curry reaggravated the injury in just 13 seconds of action.
Curry was on track for his best game of the season, putting up 18 points as a +2 in the contest with 6-11 shooting from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. The Warriors cut the Clippers lead to three points in the fourth and if Curry was there on the floor, there’s a big chance they pull this win off and go 3-0 to start their season.
Given Curry’s history with ankle issues, there’s a big chance he misses some time, which would be a major blow to the Warriors.
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