SAN FRANCISCO —
For the third straight time to begin the season, the Clippers have been in a sport too shut for consolation that challenged their composure.
They’ve managed to resist related challenges during the last two video games, and on Sunday night time the Clippers pulled out a 112-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Middle.
Of the 4 Clippers gamers who scored in double figures, middle Ivica Zubac was essentially the most dominant.
Zubac continued his robust play to open the season, posting his second straight double-double with 23 factors and 17 rebounds to go together with six assists. He has scored at the least 20 factors within the first three video games, making him the second middle in franchise historical past to attain the feat. Bob McAdoo, whereas enjoying for the Buffalo Braves, did it thrice — in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Zubac grew to become the primary Clippers participant since DeAndre Jordan in 2015 to have at the least 20 factors and 15 rebounds in consecutive video games.
James Harden had 23 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds, Norman Powell had 20 factors and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18.
The Warriors tried to mount a comeback late with out Stephen Curry, who left the sport within the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle.
The Clippers knew their protection could be examined in a far completely different approach than of their first two video games.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, defends towards Clippers guard James Harden throughout the first half Sunday. Curry left within the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle.
(Nic Coury / Related Press)
Golden State entered Sunday main the NBA in scoring, averaging 133.5 factors per sport. They’re averaging 99.5 shot makes an attempt per sport, the second-most within the league, and have been capturing 49.7% from the sphere, the fourth-best mark within the league.
The Warriors opened the season with a 36-point win over Portland and adopted that with a 41-point victory over Utah. That made the Warriors the primary crew to win every of their first two video games by at the least 35 factors, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
The Clippers didn’t again down within the first half, holding the Warriors to 43.6% from the sphere.
At one level, the Clippers held the Warriors scoreless for the primary 4 minutes of the second quarter.
