by Jerry Feitelberg

LOS ANGELES-The game was billed as a contest between the best offense(Golden State) in the NBA against the best defense(LA Clippers) in the NBA. It turned out to be a no contest as the Dubs offense and defense was better as they defeated the Clippers easily 115-98.

The Dub’s big three, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Steph Curry all scored in double figures. Steph had nineteen but was 0-for-8 from three point range. Durant scored sixteen, but he was terrific on defense. Klay, who scored 60 Monday night, struggled but made some key shots in the fourth quarter to lead the team in scoring with 24. The player of the game was “Mr. Defense” Draymond Green. He was second in scoring with 22. he had four assists and five rebounds, but he was magnificent on defense. He shut down the Clippers’ big man, Blake Griffin, holding him to just 12 points in the game. The Warriors’ other players also played well on defense. They held high-scoring guard J.J.Redick to just two points. The Dubs had eleven steals in the game, and Steph had seven all by himself. It was probably the best the team has played on defense all year. The big men, Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee, held DeAndre Jordan to just ten points.

Both teams started slowly in the first quarter. The Dubs missed the first seven shots from the floor, but the Clippers didn’t shoot well either. The Dubs led 11-10 with just six minutes left to play in the quarter when they went on a 23-5 run and led by eighteen 37-19. They kept it going for the first few minutes of the second quarter. They led by twenty 41-21 but they, suddenly, could not buy a basket and the Clippers were able to claw their way back. They cut the deficit to seven, but the Warriors behind Draymond Green and Klay Thompson extended the lead to thirteen 62-49 at the half.

So far this season, the Dubs love to break open the game in the third quarter. They increased the lead to 21 75-54 and were able to keep the Clippers at bay. The score at the end of three was 91-75. Steve Kerr rested Steph and KD for most of the fourth quarter. The second unit of Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, Ian Clark, JaVale McGee played well and closed out the game for the  Dubs. Final score 115-98.

Game Notes- Draymond Green was the player of the game. The Clippers concentrated on shutting down the Big Three. That strategy backfired as Draymond found himself open and his shots went in. Steve Kerr, in the press conference after the game, said it was a “great night defensively.” To be able to “defend like that and take care of the ball (means) we’ll be all right” The Dubs had 32 assists and just eleven turnovers in the game. The Clippers’ Blake Griffin turned the ball over seven times in the game. The Warriors improve to 19-3 while the Clippers drop to 16-7. The Warriors have beaten the Clippers eight straight times. The Warriors travel to Utah to face the Jazz Thursday night in Salt Lake City. Game time will be at 6 pm.