Focused Warriors take down Clippers
LOS ANGELES — A little scoreboard watching inspired Klay Thompson and Golden State. Seeing Houston up 3-0 on Utah combined with having dropped a game at home, the Warriors got back to business.
Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Thompson added 32 in a 113-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday that gave the Warriors a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
“We came in with that mindset to put our foot on the throttle and not let go,” Thompson said. “We let go in Game 2 and we won’t do that the rest of the playoffs. I really believe that.”
After a quiet 12 points in Game 3, Thompson broke out for 27 points by halftime, when Durant had 19.
“In the first quarter, we really didn’t need to do anything special. Klay was just amazing. K.D. was consistent the whole game,” Stephen Curry said. “For us, obviously with the threats we have out there, it is just a matter of trying to be as patient as possible.”
Curry’s patience was tried as he missed his first six shots and was in foul trouble for the second consecutive game before finishing with 12 points. Andrew Bogut fouled out with eight points, 10 rebounds and 5:50 remaining in the game.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Oakland, when the two-time defending champions could close out the series.
The Warriors were 17 of 19 from the free throw line. They controlled the boards, 49-33, led by Curry and Bogut with 10 rebounds apiece.
Coming off a 27-point loss in Game 3, the Clippers played tougher defensively and hung in after trailing by 11 in the second quarter.
They outscored Golden State 30-25 in the third when they rallied to take a five-point lead. But Curry scored seven of the Warriors’ final 10 points to send them into the fourth ahead 87-84.
The Clippers narrowed it to 87-86 early in the fourth, but Thompson sank his sixth three-pointer and the Clippers never got close the rest of the way. GOLDEN STATE (113)
Durant 12-21 6-6 33, D.Green 4-11 2-4 10, Bogut 4-7 0-0 8, Curry 3-14 5-5 12, Thompson 12-20 2-2 32, McKinnie 2-3 0-0 4, Looney 1-2 0-0 2, Livingston 0-1 2-2 2, Iguodala 4-10 0-0 10. Totals 42-89 17-19 113. LA CLIPPERS (105)
Beverley 4-9 1-2 12, Gallinari 5-20 5-6 16, J.Green 1-2 3-4 6, Gilgeous-Alexander 9-15 4-4 25, Shamet 3-6 0-0 9, Harrell 5-8 0-0 10, Chandler 2-6 2-2 6, Robinson 2-3 2-2 7, Williams 2-10 7-10 12, Temple 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 34-80 24-32 105.
Golden State… .... 32 30 25 26 113 LA Clippers… ...... 22 32 30 21 105 3-Point Goals—Golden State 12-31 (Thompson 6-9, Durant 3-6, Iguodala 2-4, Curry 1-9, McKinnie 0-1, D.Green 0-2), LA Clippers 13-31 (Gilgeous-Alexander 3-5, Beverley 3-5, Shamet 3-6, Robinson 1-1, J.Green 1-1, Williams 1-4, Gallinari 1-5, Harrell 0-1, Chandler 0-3). Fouled Out—Bogut. Rebounds—Golden State 49 (Curry, Bogut 10), LA Clippers 33 (Beverley 10). Assists—Golden State 27 (Curry 7), LA Clippers 22 (Beverley 5). Total Fouls—Golden State 27, LA Clippers 21. Technicals—LA Clippers coach Clippers (Defensive three second). Attendance—19,068 (18,997).
TRAIL BLAZERS 111, THUNDER 98
OKLAHOMA CITY — Damian Lillard scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter, and Portland held Russell Westbrook without a basket in the second half in beating Oklahoma City to take a 3-1 lead in their series.
Lillard had another big third quarter after scoring 25 points in the period in a Game 3 loss Friday. In this game, he was 5 of 7 in the third to help Portland take control for good.
C.J. McCollum scored 27 points, Al-Farouq Aminu had 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Maurice Harkless added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Portland can close out the series Tuesday at home.
Paul George had 32 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Dennis Schroder added 17 points.
Westbrook scored 14 points on 5-for21 shooting. He missed his final 10 shots and was 0 for 7 for one point in the second half.
George missed most of the second quarter with three fouls, but the Thunder hung tough and led for much of the period. Lillard hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the first half to give Portland the lead, then Aminu hit a three with 3.9 seconds left as the Trail Blazers took a 50-46 edge into the break.
Lillard hit deep back-to-back threes 27 seconds apart to give Portland a 66-54 lead. The Trail Blazers stretched the lead to 19 in the third quarter before the Thunder closed the gap. George hit a three-pointer from the corner in the closing seconds to cut Portland’s lead to 79-68.
PORTLAND (111)
Harkless 5-13 4-4 15, Aminu 7-16 1-1 19, Kanter 2-4 4-4 8, Lillard 7-19 6-6 24, McCollum 10-20 2-2 27, Layman 1-1 0-0 2, Leonard 1-3 0-0 2, Collins 3-5 3-4 10, Curry 0-3 0-0 0, Turner 0-2 0-0 0, Simons 0-0 0-0 0, Hood 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 37-90 22-23 111. OKLAHOMA CITY (98)
George 8-21 12-14 32, Grant 4-10 0-0 11, Adams 3-6 0-0 6, Westbrook 5-21 2-4 14, Ferguson 1-7 0-0 3, Nader 1-1 0-0 2, Noel 1-3 0-0 2, Morris 1-2 0-0 3, Burton 0-1 0-0 0, Felton 3-4 0-0 8, Schroder 6-12 3-4 17. Totals 33-88 17-22 98.
Portland… .......... 26 24 29 32 111 Oklahoma City…..24 22 22 30 98 3-Point Goals—Portland 15-35 (McCollum 5-9, Lillard 4-8, Aminu 4-9, Collins 1-1, Harkless 1-4, Leonard 0-2, Hood 0-2), Oklahoma City 15-40 (George 4-10, Grant 3-5, Felton 2-3, Schroder 2-6, Westbrook 2-7, Morris 1-2, Ferguson 1-6, Burton 0-1). Fouled Out— None. Rebounds—Portland 49 (Kanter, Harkless 10), Oklahoma City 44 (George 10). Assists—Portland 16 (Lillard 8), Oklahoma City 23 (Westbrook 7). Total Fouls—Portland 22, Oklahoma City 22. Technicals—Portland coach Trail Blazers (Defensive three second), Oklahoma City coach Thunder (Defensive three second), Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan. Attendance—18,203 (18,203).