Clippers and Warriors have one more dance  

Inglewood, CA (News4usonline) – The regular season finale between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors turned out to be a pretty good matchup, considering that Kawhi Leonard sat out the contest. 

Outside of that, the Clippers were able to outlast the Warriors 115-110 at Intuit Dome to earn their final victory of the regular season. 

More importantly, the Clippers played their way to the possibility of going into the postseason. That’s more than what the Portland Trail Blazers can say. After starting the season in a deficit so big that it appeared that it was going to be a wash, the Clippers are on the cusp of having to play in the first round of the playoffs.

All they have to do is beat the Warriors in the NBA’s play-in tournament, and they’ll be where no one thought they would be after opening the season with a 6-21 record. The Clippers wrapped their season with a 42-40 mark.  

“I mean, it’s a great achievement, especially being down where we were at to start,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “For all the guys just to stay the course, not give in, it was huge to come back from 6-21 to, like you said, 42- 40. Says a lot about the heart in that locker room, about the other coaches that do a tremendous job every night, and so just staying the course.”

The Clippers’ will is much part of their story as the talent on the roster. Los Angeles has had to overcome a cascade of issues and player defections and trades. Before the season began, the Clippers made moves to get the right pieces around Leonard. 

In a surprise move, the Clippers traded gunslinger Norman Powell. The Chris Paul reunion did not work out. Then came the blockbuster trades of James Harden and center Ivica Zubac. 

For a while there, it looked like the Clippers were getting rid of more assets than keeping them. But in the end, Lue’s masterful coaching job held the ship together as the Clippers blended in the new pieces to their season-long puzzle. 

Darius Garland has been what the Clippers needed at the point guard position: smart, decisive and explosive. Center Brook Lopez has filled in nicely in place of Zubac. Forward Bennedict Mathurin gives the Clippers another sure scoring option outside of Leonard. 

Lopez said for the Clippers to finish the season the way they have is definitely something to be excited about. 

“We’re obviously very proud of ourselves,” Lopez remarked. “We always knew we were a better team than what we were showing, but to go out there and prove it, it’s a nice honor. You know, we’re proud of it, you know, obviously, but we still have a lot of business we want to take care of.”

The Clippers’ immediate business at hand is trying to dispatch the Warriors for a second straight time. This time around the Clippers will be facing a Golden State lineup with Draymond Green taking up space in the paint and Steph Curry, who will be doing more than trying to get his legs back under him. 

After an extended time away due to an injury, Curry has slowly played his way back into shape. He finished with 24 points in 29 minutes against the Clippers, making half of his field goal attempts (7 of 14). 

“It’s gonna be fun,” Curry said after the game. “I mean, we know who they are. We have played them twice now since the trade deadline. And they’re a little faster pace, you know, obviously without Kawhi [Leonard] tonight, but you know what he’s about and how well he’s been playing. So it’s just going to be, which team can, you know, obviously get a game plan together, but stick to that as much as possible.”

With Leonard out, the Clippers relied on a balance attack to win this game. Led by Mathurin’s 20 points, the Clippers had six players score in double figures. John Collins was right behind Mathurin, adding another 18 points for the victors. 

Now, the real season begins for the Clippers. Garland’s thoughts on having to face the Warriors again, comes down to a simple concept.  

“Just run it back,” Garland said. “Hopefully we get to win on Wednesday. Yeah, they’re gonna have everybody on Wednesday, and so are we, but just got to have the same competitive spirit that we had today. And just be desperate, as it is like a win-or-go home situation. So be desperate, try to get a win, try to do as much as you can. Consistency and just try to get a win.”