Any late-season game between teams with identical records battling for the NBA playoff position should be close for competitive equity and decided by each roster’s certified elite.
Stephen Curry’s Warriors and Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers followed on Wednesday night at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Curry won the fight, but the Warriors lost the game 134-126, a result that extends Golden State’s losing streak to nine and gives Los Angeles a 2-2 tie in the season series.
Though Curry finished with 50 points, Leonard had 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals — and a more productive supporting cast.
Here are three observations from a game in which the Warriors overtook the Clippers (55.7 percent to 47.9) but were clearly beaten in three key categories: points from turnovers, 20-11; second chance points, 27-11 and rebounds in the fourth quarter. 14-6.
The spectacle of Steph
There was no magic in the third quarter this time for the Warriors, but there was plenty for Curry.
A day after his 35th birthday, Steph emerged from half-time, strapped his teammates to his shapely back and attempted to carry them to triumph. He played all 12 minutes, scoring 21 of his 50 points and shooting 9 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 4 from deep.
Meanwhile, his teammates scored 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-5 from long range.
Curry shot 20 of 28 from the field, including 8 of 14 from deep, but the Warriors fell back to 8-4 when he scored at least 50 points.
Curry during the game tied Wilt Chamberlain for most games of at least 50 points with seven, became the first player in NBA history to accumulate 10,000 points in 3-point shots and the 33rd player to have at least 600 games with recorded at least 20 points.
Draymond loses a tough fight
Draymond Green committed his 15th technical foul over a month ago, on February 13 against the Washington Wizards.
The Warriors, taking note of Draymond’s story, were confident that there would not be a 16th technical foul that exceeded the legal threshold. It comes with a one-game suspension, something Green previously avoided.
Until he was pushed from behind by Russell Westbrook while positioning for a possible rebound and retaliated. After Ivica Zubac’s shot went through the net, the ball got to Draymond, who grabbed it and shoved Westbrook sideways in the head.
Referee Karl Lane whistled and assessed the fatal technical foul.
A few seconds after Green and Westbrook exchanged, Marcus Morris Sr. violently grabbed Draymond and threw him to the ground, resulting in a flagrant 2 and an auto ejection for Morris.
Technical fouls can be overturned after league review, but it’s likely Draymond will be seated Friday night when the Warriors take on the Hawks in Atlanta.
Good series, short life
Lately, in a bid to meet their season goal of consistency, the Warriors have focused on early defense in hopes of eliminating the poor first quarters that have been a habit.
Their goal was to build leads in the first quarter. They’ve done it in each of the last two games, both home wins.
The Warriors failed in this game. They were great early on, taking an 8-1 lead while forcing six consecutive missed field goals, but the Clippers responded with a defense of their own and that changed everything.
The Warriors had just 15 points after 9:30 a.m. of the quarter while the Clippers had 27 points and were scoring 58.8 percent during that span.
RELATED: What Warriors will miss most if Iguodala is out
The Warriors went into the second quarter 28-23 behind, the first time they have fallen behind in the first quarter since their last away game in Memphis last Thursday.
Happy ways to two game streak. Some bad habits die hard.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast