The Los Angeles Clippers came out on top in a thriller against the Golden State Warriors. The last game of the regular NBA season kept the league on its toes as it had far-reaching consequences for the play-in tournament. The decision was ultimately only made after extra time.
The “Game 7” vibe, personally announced by Stephen Curry, was tangible from the first second on in the Chase Center in San Francisco. Although nominally just an NBA regular season game, both teams went at it like it was a playoff game. And with good reason. After all, the winner would secure a direct spot in the playoffs, while the loser would have to go through the play-ins.
Despite the great atmosphere in the Warriors’ arena, it was the Clippers who got off to the better start. The interplay between James Harden (39, 13/23) and center Ivica Zubac (22/17) repeatedly presented the hosts with unsolvable tasks. A free throw from the former put the team from Los Angeles five points ahead (22:17). The Warriors responded with a 16:3 run to end the quarter (25:33).
Leonard in playoff mode
When the Clippers started scoring again in the second quarter, they suddenly found themselves trailing by twelve points (25:37). But led by a strong Kawhi Leonard (33, 13/19), they managed to catch up, capped by a deep three from Norman Powell at the end of the quarter (60:58).
After the break, the game turned into a real thriller. The lead changed hands between the two teams a total of 17 times. While Leonard carried the Clippers from basket to basket, Jimmy Butler (30, 12/20) played strongly during this phase and kept his Warriors in the game. However, Norman Powell put the Clippers back in front with a drive shortly before the end of the quarter (83:82).
Warriors miss chances to win
In the final quarter, the Warriors were trailing by six points for a long time (92:86). Late in the game, Stephen Curry (36, 10/20) finally took control of the game, scoring eleven points in a row for the Warriors to take the lead (111:107). However, the guests again had the last word, in the person of Harden and Zubac, who equalized with a lay-up. It went into overtime.
Here it was again the Clippers, who initially took control of the game. Two threes from Harden put the fifth-placed team +6 (117:111) ahead. The Warriors cut the deficit with Green and Curry, but never managed to catch up. After Green missed an open lay-up with seconds left on the clock, the Warriors’ hopes were gone.
Golden State thus finished the season in seventh place and has to go into the play-ins, where they will first face the Memphis Grizzlies. The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, will face the Denver Nuggets in the first playoff round.
