Warriors’ painful loss to Clippers: Lessons learned from squandered lead

What we learned as Warriors squander another lead in loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another significant lead, another intense finish for the Warriors.

The Warriors suffered a 24-point meltdown against the Sacramento Kings, saw their 18-point lead dwindle to four versus the Los Angeles Clippers, and took a 22-point lead only to see it reduced to two during the latter part of the third quarter in a matchup at Crypto.com Arena.

Entering the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead, the Warriors barely held on and ended up losing by a single point in a dramatic finish against the Clippers.

Golden State’s game plan was solid in the first half, with 29 made shots off 19 assists and only three fouls called on them. However, the second half saw a significant shift in momentum, as the Clippers outscored the Warriors by 20 points due to a series of fouls and a loss of their commanding lead.

Draymond Green made a valiant effort, but his missed corner 3-pointer sealed the Warriors’ fate. Despite this, he scored a season-high 21 points, hitting 8-of-15 shots from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, marking his best regular-season game performance in years.

Steph Curry managed to tally 22 points, the only Warriors starter with a positive plus/minus rating. Moses Moody scored 21 points, while Klay Thompson added 17 to the team’s score.

The Clippers also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Warriors 56-38.

Here are three key takeaways from the Warriors’ loss, moving them to a 9-11 record for the season.

Downtown Draymond

The Clippers underestimated Green’s shooting abilities, and he capitalized on their mistake by nailing four wide-open three-pointers in the first eight minutes of the game.

In total, the Warriors made seven 3s in the first quarter, with Green accounting for four of them. His incredible performance led to a technical foul for Thompson, further illustrating the impact of his outstanding play.

Green’s explosive performance in the first quarter tied his career high for 3s in a single quarter, a remarkable feat accomplished within the first eight minutes of the game.

Šarić In, Looney Out

Displaying his dynamic coaching style, Steve Kerr opted for a different starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game. Moody started for the injured Wiggins, but the standout change featured Dario Šarić being brought in for Kevon Looney.

Šarić’s impressive scoring ability during his three starts surpassed his performance in the 16 games coming off the bench. Although Looney has only started as a reserve twice, Kerr’s decision proved to be valuable during a 5-0 Clippers run with Green and Looney on the floor.

Šarić’s offensive spacing made a significant impact, despite his underwhelming performance in the game. On the other hand, Looney’s solid seven points and eight rebounds, along with a plus-3 rating off the bench, showcased his value to the team.

Young Closers

The Warriors’ loss was exacerbated by the squandering of yet another significant lead. Notably, the amount of time certain players spent on the court was critical.

Curry clocked in with the most minutes played, followed by rookie Brandin Podziemski, who played just five seconds less than Curry. Moody also received considerable playing time, and both he and Podziemski were part of Kerr’s closing lineup.

Although the loss was disappointing, the performance of Podziemski was a bright spot, solidifying his case as the Warriors’ best rookie defensively since Green, an exceptional achievement given his limited experience.

Even when the Warriors are at full strength, the talented duo of Moody and Podziemski will likely remain critical to the team’s rotation.

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