You might have already heard this, but just in case news of the biggest comeback in NBA playoffs history didn’t reach you: the Golden State Warriors had a rough night on Monday. The overwhelming favorites to win a third straight NBA championship held a 31-point lead at on point against a Clippers team that was literally given 100-to-1 to beat them in the first round, and then the Warriors lost 135-131 to even the series at 1-1.
The Golden State Warriors were starting to recover from a couple of early glitches, and the Los Angeles Clippers were the last undefeated team in the NBA. And then the Detroit Pistons rolled through California. The Warriors and Clippers can commiserate when they meet Monday after both were defeated by the Pistons over the weekend. The Clippers fell 95-87 to Detroit on Saturday for their first loss of the season, and the Warriors played a far-too-gracious host a day later in a 115-107 setback to the Pistons.
Blake Griffin made a 3-pointer as time expired and the Los Angeles Clippers remained unbeaten with a 104-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. Griffin, who scored 16 of his 25 points during the fourth quarter, got the ball on the left side of the floor and hit the 3-pointer just inside the line, the game’s sixth lead change during the final two minutes.
The Clippers’ 37-point second quarter fueled an easy victory Monday night in Los Angeles.
The Spurs aren't the only team that knows how to put together a winning streak in San Antonio. The Los Angeles Clippers did it last spring in the playoffs, and they get the first crack this week at ending the Spurs' 41-game regular-season run at home.
LAC comes into this one on the heels of a W over the Knicks on Friday night. With both Luc Mbah a Moute and Paul Pierce on the shelf, Jeff Green played a whopping 45 minutes and contributed 17 points, six rebounds and four assists on 6-for-11 shooting from the floor. If neither player is able to give it a go this afternoon, Jeff could be in for another long day.
It's LeBron James against his good friend Chris Paul, it's Tyronn Lue against his mentor Doc Rivers when the Cavaliers (46-18) collide with the Clippers (42-22) this afternoon.
Dallas begins a three-game homestand Monday night hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak while the Clippers need a win to dodge consecutive losses for the first time since before Christmas.
All summer, head coach Doc Rivers and the players he assembled have referenced the talent and the versatility of the new-look Clippers.