(Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors have beaten the Pacific Division-
rival Los Angeles Clippers twice this season and will go for the trifecta
Saturday night at Staples Center.
The Warriors, who will host the Clippers in the series finale Jan. 21, have
won four of the past five meetings between the teams. Golden State, though,
has lost 12 of its last 17 games as the visitor against the Clips.
Golden State could alter its success as the guest in this series with how well
it has played recently, winning four in a row and 15 of the last 19 games. In
a 115-94 victory over the Clippers the last time out on Wednesday, Stephen
Curry scored 25 of his 31 points in the first half and also posted eight
assists and six rebounds, while David Lee ended with 24 points, 13 boards and
seven assists.
Klay Thompson nailed five 3-pointers en route to 19 points as the Warriors
shot 50 percent for the game and made 52.2 percent beyond the arc (12-of-23).
"We've come a long way this season and I thought this was a game where a lot
of people were looking to see what we were made of," Lee said. "We've got
these guys again on Saturday. They're a very good basketball team, we were
just a little bit better tonight."
Lee has posted at least 20 points and 10 rebounds 14 times this season, while
Curry has scored 20 or more points in 18 of his 23 games. Lee is the only
player in the NBA averaging at least 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
Curry owns averages of 23.7 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds in his last
seven games.
The Warriors finished with a 53-38 advantage in rebounds, but did commit a
game-high 21 turnovers. The previous time they opened a season 22-10 was
1991-92 and can match last season's win total (23-43) with a victory Saturday.
Warriors coach Mark Jackson has been putting up the NBA standings in the
locker room for motivation, something the team wouldn't want to see a season
ago. Jackson was asked what it does for the players' mindset when seeing the
standings posted.
"It doesn't really effect it because it changes every single day, but what it
does it makes you aware," Jackson said. "You begin to recognize, 'Ok who do I
want to win tonight or who do I want to lose.' You just become more conscious
of what's going on. It's important."
The strategy must be working because Golden State is 10-1 against teams with
winning records.
Meanwhile, the Clippers halted a mini two-game losing streak after winning 17
in a row with a 107-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was deemed a
home game for the Clips, and Staples Center belonged to Chris Paul.
In what might have been his biggest statement performance of the season, Paul
went off for 30 points on 11-for-25 shooting, 13 assists and six rebounds.
"It felt like, for a little stretch there, we were almost just trying to hold
on," Paul said. "We were playing not to lose instead of playing to win. And
that's my responsibility, me and (Blake Griffin). But we made some timely
plays."
With bench dynamo Jamal Crawford out of the lineup with a sore left foot, Paul
was epic. It was a performance that could be remembered come MVP voting time,
but Griffin was good as well.
He scored 24 points and did a great defensive job matched up with Pau Gasol or
Metta World Peace. Those two combined for four points on 2-for-12 shooting.
But it was Paul who iced the victory late. He scored the Clippers final eight
points, went 7-for-7 from the foul line and lifted his side into the winner's
circle.
"Chris made some big plays, some big free throws and we had a couple of stops
at the end to seal it up," said Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro. "A good win
for us, especially short-handed."
The Sports Network