NBA regular season is in full swing, and the game between the Clippers, who were sitting at home, and the Warriors has concluded. Prior to this game, the Clippers were ranked seventh in the West, while the Warriors were tenth. With Curry and Green absent from this game, the final result was as expected, with the Clippers securing victory and a winning streak, rising to fifth in the Western Conference standings. 26+17+18! The Clippers' winning streak rises to fifth, and the data doesn't lie about who the key to victory is.
At the start of the game, both teams had poor shooting and could only score through consecutive attacks on the inside. As the game progressed, the Warriors found their rhythm slightly from beyond the arc, ending the first quarter with a two-point lead. In the second quarter, the game remained close, with the score seesawing. The Clippers had multiple players contributing offensively, while the Warriors seemed somewhat sluggish, trailing by six points at halftime. After the break, the Warriors' offense did not recover but instead declined further, with frequent turnovers and missed shots. The Clippers played steadily, with many players contributing offensively, and they extended their lead into double digits after consecutive scoring runs.
When everyone thought the game was without suspense, a turning point arrived. In the fourth quarter, Kuminga scored consecutively, leading the Warriors on an 18:4 run to narrow the gap and bring back the suspense. In the crucial moment, Harden took charge of scoring and assisting, helping the team stabilize the situation and ultimately maintain the advantage, narrowly defeating the Warriors to complete a triple kill against them for the season. This also further improved their record and ranking.
In this game, with Curry and Green absent, the Warriors' offense stalled completely, and Schroder did not perform up to expectations throughout the game. He shot 3-for-11, including 0-for-6 from three-point range, scoring only 7 points with 5 assists. Since joining the Warriors, Schroder has yet to deliver his expected performance; it must be said that his position is in danger. Despite Kuminga's outburst in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in a single quarter, and setting a career-high of 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the entire game, he still could not prevent the team's defeat. After losing, the Warriors' record stands at 15 wins and 15 losses, falling to 11th in the Western Conference standings; a trade seems imminent.
On the Clippers' side, the victory was relatively easy, with all starters scoring in double figures. Although they were once chased by the Warriors, they managed to stabilize the situation. Powell became the highest-scoring player in the game, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter and contributing 26 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in the entire game. It must be said that Powell has become the biggest gain for the Clippers since George's departure.
Harden's performance in this game was average, with less-than-ideal outside shooting. However, he stepped up in the crucial fourth quarter with both scoring and assists to help the team stabilize the situation, contributing 18 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in the entire game. The remaining starters also performed efficiently, with Zubac dominating the paint, shooting 8-for-9 to score 17 points and adding 11 rebounds and 2 assists. He single-handedly overwhelmed the Warriors' interior.
There were also Jones with 14 points and 6 rebounds, Dunn with 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Coffey with 11 points. Ultimately, the team easily secured victory, with a record of 18 wins and 13 losses, rising to fifth in the Western Conference standings. It's hard to imagine the Clippers being able to achieve such a record and performance without Leonard on the court. Once Leonard returns, the Clippers will become a disruptor in the Western Conference standings. Looking forward to the Clippers' future performances.