Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry takes a shot over the Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Mon Feb 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

Clippers White Wash Warriors 119-104; Third loss in four games

By Barbara Mason

Monday night the Golden State Warriors (42-16) took on the LA Clippers (29-30) at Crypto.com Arena. Both teams are coming off pressure-packed games. Saturday night the Clippers beat the Mavericks by the score of 99-97 and the Warriors survived a marathon against the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115. Both of these teams have proven that they can handle pressure.

Jonathan Kuminga is playing at a very high level right now and this will bode well for Golden State as we head into the All-Star game and the final months of the 2021- 2022 season. His youthful energy provides a real spark for the Warriors.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will provide the offense along with Andrew Wiggins and Kuminga in this game. Reggie Jackson will lead the Clippers with his offensive skills. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out since early February there will be a lot of work for Jackson.

The Clippers have a very good defense and so the Warriors will have to control their ball movement and avoid those turnovers in this third meeting of the season.

The Warriors got a good start with Curry hitting all six of his opening shot attempts in the first quarter. Both teams were shooting better than 60% in a great offensive game.

It wasn’t until three minutes left in the opening quarter that Curry missed a shot. He had 16 points in the first quarter. The Warriors led after 12 minutes 37-34 and finished the quarter shooting at 64% in a high-powered offensive game by both teams.

It was a 61-59 Clipper lead at the half. Curry finished with 26 points in the two quarters. He was 6 of 7 from downtown and was the only Warrior in double digits. Jackson led the Clippers with 12 points. Both Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum had 11 points in the half.

The Warriors needed to limit Jackson and protect the ball in the second half. Most of the seven turnovers for Golden State were in the second quarter and came practically back to back.

The second half began nothing like the first quarter for the Warriors. Their offense went cold in the first three minutes as the Clippers took the largest lead in the game 71-61 after the opening four minutes. The Warriors offense had dried up and every one of the Clipper starters were in double digits. After three quarters the Clippers led 94-78.

The Clippers were rolling with one of their best offensive efforts of the year and the Warriors were getting rolled. It is a rare thing to see Golden State on the short end of the score in the third quarter. They had a lot of work to do in the fourth quarter.

Shoot and miss was just about all we saw in the fourth quarter. The Warriors went from 60% to 29% in the final quarter. It was just not the Warriors night. Turnovers, missed open shots, and empty possessions buried the Warriors in this game.

The Warriors will have the day off tomorrow before taking on the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Chase Center. This will be the final game before the All-Star game next Sunday.