Kevin Durant did a little bit of everything, scoring 38 points to lead the Dubs to a 132-105 victory over the Clippers in Game 3 on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
All eyes were on Kevin Durant going into Game 3, and boy did he put on a show. Durant did a little bit of everything as the Dubs picked up a 132-105 win in Los Angeles on Thursday night. With the victory, the Warriors take a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 coming up on Sunday afternoon.
TEAM LEADERS
After early exits to the first two games of the series by way of ejection and fouling out, Durant wasted little time in getting to work in this one. He had the team’s first six points and he’d go on to make his first six shots of the game. Durant had 12 points in the opening quarter, 15 more in the second and 11 in the third before sitting out the fourth. All told, Durant tallied 38 points on 14-for-23 shooting, adding seven assists and a block to his dominant effort.
As hot as Durant was, he wasn’t the only one. Stephen Curry also started strong, scoring 13 of his 21 points in the first quarter as the Dubs jumped out to another double-digit lead midway through the first quarter. The Warriors actually started the game by making 16 of their first 21 shots, including nine straight makes. The Warriors would finish the first quarter with 41 points, their second 40-point quarter of the series.
The Warriors wave gained momentum in the second quarter behind Durant and Klay Thompson. After going 0-for-4 to start the game, Thompson got it going with 10 points in the second quarter, including two 3-pointers on as many attempts.
The Warriors shot 58.3 percent from the floor in the first half and 54.8 percent for the game, and they also made the Clippers work for everything they got. Los Angeles was held to 37.2 percent shooting in the game, and were fortunate to enter the break down only 21, thanks in large part to their 19 points on free throws in the first half.
After losing a 31-point lead on Monday, the Warriors didn’t take their foot off the gas in this one. Instead, they maintained their intensity and pushed their lead to 31 and beyond in the third quarter.
Draymond Green contributed eight points, a game-high 10 assists and two blocks, and a little over a month removed from playing professionally in Australia, Andrew Bogut started at center in place of the injured DeMarcus Cousins and more than held his own. Bogut tallied eight points, 14 rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes.
The contributions continued to the bench. Kevon Looney was 5-for-7 from the floor and Andre Iguodala connected on three of his four 3-point attempts to finish with 15 points in 22 minutes.
Needless to say, a lot went right for the Dubs, and they’ll look to keep that momentum going in Sunday’s Game 4 matinee.
More Notables:
- With tonight’s victory, the Warriors have won at least one road playoff game in an NBA record 20 consecutive playoff series … The Warriors passed the Miami Heat, who have an active streak of 19-straight playoff series with a road win.
- The Warriors have now won four-straight on the road during the postseason.
- The 27 point margin of victory represented the Warriors largest postseason win over the Clippers … Also, the 132 points scored were the most by Golden State versus Los Angeles in the postseason.
- Golden State scored 41 points in the first quarter, its highest scoring quarter of the 2019 postseason … It was the second time the Warriors scored 40-or-more in a quarter this series (40, 2nd quarter, 4/15/19) and the first time the Warriors have had multiple 40-point quarters in the same series since 1967 versus the Hawks.
- Additionally, it was the second-highest scoring quarter (46, at Portland, 4/24/17) dating back to the 2015 playoffs and the 6th 40-point quarter under Steve Kerr … Overall, the Warriors have had 16 40-point quarters in franchise history.
- The Warriors are 33-30 all-time in Game 3’s including 10-7 under Kerr.
- Golden State handed out 35 assists and have topped the 30-assist plateau in all three games this postseason … Golden State is 29-4 in playoff games when recording 30-or-more assists.
- Golden State improved to 25-9 in playoff games when Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut start.
- With a game-high 38 points tonight, Kevin Durant (3,738) passed Magic Johnson (3,701) for 14th place on the NBA’s all-time postseason scoring list …
- Durant scored 27 points in the first half, his first 20-point half of the 2019 postseason … The 27 points were tied for his most points scored in a playoff first half (at Houston, 4/27/13) … The most he’s scored in any half is 29.
- Klay Thompson scored 12 points and grabbed two rebounds … He now has 406 career postseason rebounds passing Rick Barry and Paul Arizin (404) for eighth place on the Warriors’ all-time playoff rebounds list.
- Curry added 21 points … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Golden State is 18-1 in playoff games when Curry, Durant and Thompson combine to score at least 70 points.
- Kevon Looney scored 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field … During the series, Looney is shooting 82.4% from the field (14-of-17 FG) and while scoring in double-figures each of the last two games.
- Golden State improved to 8-0 in the postseason when Draymond Green records 10-plus assists … Green had 10 assists tonight.
- Andre Iguodala scored 15 points to go along with three assists … The Warriors are 13-3 in the playoffs when Iguodala scores 15-plus points … The guard handed out his 500th career playoff assist tonight.