By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times
Another classic play-in tournament we have witnessed. Golden State Warriors, with experience on their side, outlasted Los Angeles Clippers, 126-121 on the road.
The Clippers’ season is over. The Warriors will play the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 spot on Friday at 10:30 pm. Steph Curry always shines during the play-in tournament. Curry came into this game averaging 33 points in his career lifetime in the tournament. He did it once again. Curry finished with 35 points, 27 of them came in the second half.
The Clippers’ defense was so focused on Curry that they forgot about Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Who would’ve thought that a veteran player like Horford would’ve been an x-factor in last night’s game? Horford made four big threes in the fourth quarter. All of them were wide-open shots. Horford had 14 points.
Porzingis finished with 20 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field. He was important in getting those offensive rebounds for the Warriors, and some were put-back dunks. Gui Santos added 20 points, shot 9-for-13 from the field with six rebounds and five assists. Brandin Podziemski finished with 17 and led the Warriors with seven rebounds.
Draymond Green’s defense on Kawhi Leonard down the stretch was spectacular. Leonard didn’t score a single basket in the fourth quarter. Leonard entered the game averaging a career high of 28 points per game. He finished with 21. Darius Garland got off to a good start in the first quarter. Overall, he played solidly and finished with 21 as well.
The role players from both teams played outstandingly. Bennedict Mathurin contributed 23 points off the bench for the Clippers. Mathurin made five of six threes. John Collins added 11 points.
The Warriors outscored the Clippers 43 to 32 in the fourth quarter. The Clippers had most of the momentum throughout the game. The Warriors made 20 threes.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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