Bogut impresses as Warriors take command in playoff series
ANDREW Bogut has continued his storybook return to the NBA by just missing a doubledouble while helping the Golden State Warriors inflict another blow on the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Warriors beat the Clippers 113-105 in LA yesterday to take a 3-1 lead in the best-ofseven playoff series.
Bogut had eight points, 10 rebounds and four assists before he fouled out with six minutes to go. “They just battle,” Bogut said, praising the Clippers’ tenacity. “This is a team that won’t lie down.”
Kevin Durant led with 33 points while Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half.
The defending champion Warriors need just one more victory to extinguish the Clippers and face the Houston Rockets or Joe Ingles’ Utah Jazz in the second round.
Thompson raised eyebrows after the game when he said his team expected to face the Rockets, despite the Clippers and Jazz still being alive in the playoffs. The Rockets lead the Jazz 3-0 in their series.
The Warriors-Clippers game five is on Wednesday in Oakland.
Bogut has been a seamless fit for the Warriors after they signed him out of the NBL last month and inserted him into their starting line-up when AllStar centre DeMarcus Cousins suffered a potentially seasonending leg injury.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has described Bogut as “a god send” with a “brilliant basketball mind”.
Bogut’s skill and IQ were on display with his assists, which included pinpoint passes setting up Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala for easy baskets. Earlier on Sunday, Aron Baynes’ Boston Celtics moved into the second round of the playoffs after they swept the Indiana Pacers.
The Celtics won 110-106 in Indianapolis to clinch the series 4-0 and set up a likely match-up with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, who lead their series 3-0 against the Detroit Pistons.
It was a team effort from the Celtics with Gordon Hayward coming off the bench for 20 points while six others scoring in double figures.
Queenslander Baynes had just two points, two rebounds and a steal as a starter, but his trademark rugged play helped lay the foundation for his team’s sweep.