The Clippers defeated the Warriors 102-92 at home, securing their second consecutive win and achieving a triple kill against the Warriors this season. With an 18-13 record, they are now fifth in the Western Conference. The Clippers have been on a roll recently, defeating strong teams like the Grizzlies and the Warriors. The Warriors were smart not to play Curry and Draymond Green as they might not have been able to win against the Clippers anyway. After all, the Clippers had already double-killed the Warriors before this game, winning with or without Curry. Therefore, the Warriors might as well conserve their strength for a full-strength matchup against the Suns, especially at home against Durant.
The Suns are in poor form today, losing to the Mavericks without Doncic, and Coach Kerr made a wise decision. Additionally, the Warriors almost pulled off a surprise win, reducing a 21-point deficit to just 3 points in the final quarter. Fortunately, Harden, Powell, and Zubac stepped up. Zubac scored 2 points under the basket, Powell redeemed himself with a three-pointer, and finally, Harden hit a crucial 2-pointer to extend the lead from one point to five. In the last two minutes, the difference between Harden and VanVleet was evident.
Today, the Rockets led the Timberwolves by 16 points but were ultimately overturned due to VanVleet's choices in the final moments, attempting various long-range threes without success. VanVleet missed three consecutive three-pointers from outside the arc, allowing the Timberwolves to seize the momentum and secure the victory. On the other hand, when the Warriors closed the gap, Harden steadied the rhythm, focused on efficiency, not only scoring key baskets but also assisting his teammates thrice, with Zubac and Powell continuously attacking and scoring, completely deflating the Warriors' momentum.
In the entire game, Harden played 38 minutes, shooting 6 for 14 and 2 for 8 from beyond the arc, scoring 18 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. This may be the gap in court control ability between Harden and VanVleet. VanVleet often sees himself as Jordan, and if he were replaced by Harden, the Rockets' win rate would significantly improve, potentially even competing for first place in the West with the Thunder. As Tyronn Lue said after the game, during the Warriors' pursuit, Harden's correct decisions allowed the Clippers to get everything right.
In terms of configuration, the Clippers do not have Leonard this year, and their lineup cannot compare in talent with the Rockets or even the Warriors. However, why are the Clippers still able to achieve such a strong record? It is because of Harden's ability to maintain a baseline. Tyronn Lue also mentioned Leonard, saying that he is about to return. The team is currently practicing tactics with Leonard in mind to maintain their rhythm upon his return. There is a good chance that Leonard will return after the Clippers' three-game road trip and play against the Hawks at home.
Tyronn Lue said, "This was a crucial victory for us today because we held onto our lead. We were up by as many as 21 points, but the Warriors chased us down to within 3 points. However, during their comeback, we remained calm. We did not lose our composure despite the Warriors' relentless pressure. They forced Harden and others into numerous turnovers, but Harden knew what to do. We will forget this game; in three days, I won't even remember how we won, but winning is what matters; I don't care about the process."
Many American media outlets commented after the game that the Clippers with Leonard's return would be complete, and Kerr said that Leonard has a terrifying dominance on both offense and defense. This Clippers team has been transformed into a powerhouse by Harden, and Leonard's return will make them even more formidable. Leonard is a player who can fit into any team and adapt to any system. Ultimately, the Clippers are replacing Dunn with Leonard. The starting lineup will become Harden, Powell, Leonard, Jones, and Zubac.