25 first half points between the “Splash Brothers”, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson helped the Golden State Warriors defeat the Los Angeles Clippers, 121-104. The Warriors shot 58 % from the field, which is the highest shooting percentage in the NBA for any team so far this season and shot 60% from three. The Clippers were also 20-20 from the free throw line which helped the Warriors remain undefeated with a 4-0 record. Golden State extended its best start in 20 years under rookie head coach Steve Kerr. The last time the Warriors began 4-0 was the 1994-95 season, when they won their first 5 but finished the season 26-56.
There had been several heated incidents on and off the court between these rising rivals in the Pacific Division over the past 3 seasons. That was very much apparent again when Clippers star forward, Blake Griffin, never offered nor received a handshake from Warriors players before the opening tip.
Stephen Curry had a ridiculous game and decided to lead the way for the Warriors. He finished with 28 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Klay Thompson 19 points with shooting 3-4 from three. Curry shot 4-8 from three. Draymond Green also assisted to the big blowout win with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a career night for the undersized power forward starting in place of the injured David Lee.
Blake Griffin started ice cold for the Clippers. Griffin missed his first four straight shots and never really got it going all night for the Clippers, he finished with 14 points. Chris Paul struggled for the Clippers as well scoring only 12 points, but getting 12 assists. The star for the Clippers was center Deandre Jordan who scored 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. The Clippers are now 3-2 on the season.
The Warriors join 2 other western conference teams in the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies as only 3 unbeaten teams in the NBA.
The Warriors built a 25-point lead in the second quarter and held off the Clippers the rest of the way, getting a small piece of revenge, a dish best served cold, after losing an intense first-round playoff series to the Clippers last season.
