After pulling off the biggest comeback in NBA playoff history to win Game 2, the Los Angeles Clippers will now try to take a 2-1 series lead over the defending champion Warriors. The Clippers were down by 31 points in the second half on Monday night but rallied for an incredibly impressive victory. Golden State must now bounce back in a hurry and try to steal home court advantage back.
The Warriors looked like the champions in the series opener, coming away with a 121-104 victory. Los Angeles and Golden State have built up a nice rivalry over the years, and the Clippers aren’t going to make this easy on the Warriors. Golden State won three of the four games in the regular season from the Clippers. The Warriors are an -8.5 point favorite in Game 3 of the series.
Williams Sparking Clippers Offense
Lou Williams will almost certainly win Sixth Man of the Year Award this season, and he has been terrific in these playoffs. Williams has come off the bench to average 30.5 points per game and got the rally going in Game 2. The Clippers are making 12.5 three-pointers per game so far in this series, and their hot shooting could give them a 2-1 series lead. Los Angeles is one of the few teams in the entire league that isn’t afraid to run with the Warriors.
Patrick Beverley is averaging just 6.5 points per game in this series, but he has made a huge difference. Beverley is one of the biggest pests in the league, and he has gotten under the skin of the Warriors. The Clippers are averaging an astonishing 12.0 steals per game, and their pressure defense has been just as impressive as their shooting.
Curry Needs Some Help For Warriors
Stephen Curry has been terrific through the first two games of the series, but he needs some help from his running mates. Curry is leading the team with 33.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through two games, but Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson haven’t been great. Durant is averaging 22.0 points per game, but Thompson has scored just 29 total points. The Warriors can’t win without these two players making shots.
Golden State will also be playing without DeMarcus Cousins for at least the remainder of this series. Cousins tore his quad in Game 2 and was making an impact in his first season with the Warriors. Center Andrew Bogut has played just 9.0 minutes so far this series, but he will be forced into much more action going forward. The Warriors certainly have enough depth to survive, but this is a tough blow.
Warriors Get Revenge on Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers were able to stun the Warriors in Game 2, but it also probably just woke them up. Golden State has been through this before, and they will now be fully engaged for Game 3. Look for Thompson and Durant to step up their games and lead the Warriors to a blowout victory. Bet the Golden State Warriors -8.5 over the Los Angeles Clippers.
