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You will be forgiven if you have disabled this game in the third quarter.
Fueled by an angry defense, L.A. Clippers have achieved the biggest return in the history of the NBA playoffs – against the reigning double Golden State Warriors champion, nothing less. The Clips scored an 85-point franchise record in the second half and wiped out a 31-point deficit to steal the second game in the first-round series, 135-131.
The eighth-seeded Clippers were not even expected to play in the playoffs. They treated their best player, Tobias Harris, in a compensation move from the salary cap to the trading deadline. They start two recruits and supply the rotation with players from the scrap yard of the NBA. Yet, they never stopped coming, and the Warriors learned it at their expense.
Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams worked tirelessly to make the Clippers fiercely involved at the expense of the Warrior superstar. Beverley, in particular, was practically a zombie, eating at Kevin Durant until they escaped. The all-defensive caliber guard of Clips embodies the flawless attitude that inspired the biggest comeback in NBA playoff history.
A Durant dunk and a foul gave the Warriors a 94-63 advantage, while it was only 7:31 in the third quarter, and it seemed Golden State would have a chance to rest their remaining four starters. in good health (DeMarcus Cousins, suffered a major quad injury "in the first half.) The champions still looked like champions.
But the clips were chipped. Jamychal Green, acquired at the cutoff date, managed a dunk and a 3-pointers in a 7-0 run. Williams scored 14 points on six out of seven shots and added four assists in the final at 7:31 of the third, while L.A. halved the deficit. The Clippers scored 44 points for the third quarter – and are still behind by 14 to enter the fourth.
Williams and Harrell then scored 27 of 41 points in the fourth quarter of the Clippers.
"You are lost in the game," Williams told reporters then. "Once you reduce the thread to 12, you reduce the thread to 10, then you realize you have a match in progress. I'm one of those guys who can get hot, and I just got lost in the moment.
Even though Golden State's advance was down to a single figure, it still seemed that the Warriors would prevent a return. They are the warriors, after all. So, when L.A reduced the lead to 125-123 with 3:49 to play, Durant looked for another dunk and foul, pushing her back to two possessions. And when Williams created the 128-128 tie, Stephen Curry responded with a 3-pointer who took over the advantage at the last minute.
But Williams cut in half with so many fadeaways, and the two rookies – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet – found themselves on a 3-pointer that finally tipped the scales in favor of the clips with 15.9 seconds to left, 133-131.
Curry went for the win and when his 27 feet rolled away, Harrell sank his two free throws to seal a win as impressive as you'll see in the NBA.
Asked what was the key to limit Durant for more than 32 minutes, Beverley asked the journalists"What do you think?" When the answer did not come, he said, "Be Pat."
"I can not help him be irritated by me," he added to defend KD. "It's not my fault I'm going out and I'm trying to be the best defender on this planet in the making.
The clips beat the Warriors 72-37 compared to 19:31, shooting 27 times out of 39 of the field (69.2%). These statistics do not reflect the heart. Most teams would have pulled out when Beverley started digging. This series could end with a five-game win for the Warriors, but this return in 31 points remains forever. As if these numbers – three and one – were not already echoing in the Oracle Arena corridor.
The Clippers were not supposed to be here, and yet they are tied with the Warriors entering Wednesday's third game in LA, where Beverley will still be chasing Durant.
Even if the warriors blow up the clips, it's better to stay until the end this time.
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